| NEWS & EVENTS | California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CCV)

EVENTS last updated on August 27, 2010.

NEWS last updated on August 27, 2010.

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National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims

News

August 27, 2010

Death penalty is not worth the cost
The Sacramento Bee published a new op-ed by Helene Burns and Judy Kerr, both registered nurses and murder victim family members.
CLICK HERE to read it.

August 24, 2010

Without death penalty, we'd have funds to treat mental illness
The San Jose Mercury News published a new op-ed by CCV member Deldelp Medina.
CLICK HERE to read it.

August 19, 2010

Media Recap
Governor Schwarzenegger's announcement to borrow $64 million to expand California's death row has sparked outrage among California's citizens about the cost of the death penalty and its many failures. Here's a recap of the media coverage:

California borrows from budget to build new death row; Death Penalty News Blog, August 13, 2010
How would you spend $64 million?; James Clark, Calitics, August 13, 2010; Originally posted on the ACLU blog
California’s death penalty a failure; Editorial, Stockton Record, August 15, 2010
Death penalty broken in state, LTE, Judy Kerr, Modesto Bee, August 15, 2010
California can't afford much, but it can afford a shiny new death row; Michael Landauer, Dallas Morning News Blog, August 16, 2010
Cost of California death row roils editorial boards; The StandDown Texas Project, August 16, 2010
Cut death penalty to fund criminal investigations; Aqeela Sherrills, Care2, August 16, 2010; Originally posted on LA Progressive
Is the death penalty too expensive; Bookworm Room, August 16, 2010
Tell California: Don't borrow from Peter to execute Paul; Chris Cassidy, Change.org, August 16, 2010
Will cost of death row kill us all?, Editorial, Merced Sun-Star, August 16, 2010
A $64 million question; Bryan Evans, Amnesty International Blog, August 17, 2010
What price is too high for death row?; Editorial, Sacramento Bee, August 19, 2010

August 16, 2010

Death Penalty in the News
The death penalty was a hot topic in the media this weeked as the state reacted to Governor Schwarzenegger's irresponsible plan to borrow $64 million from California's general fund to expand death row. Please check out these news items, write letters to the editor, and comment on the stories!

Death Penalty Broken in State; LTE by Judy Kerr in the Modesto Bee.
Beyond the Grim Sleeper: Cut Death Penalty to Fund Criminal Investigations; Blog post by Aqeela Sherrills on Dick and Sharon's LA Progressive.
California's Death Penalty a Failure; Editorial in the Stockton Record.
What Price is Too High for Death Row?; Editorial in the Sacramento Bee.
How Would You Spend $64 Million?; Blog post by James Clark on Calitics.

August 12, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger Plans to Borrow Nearly $65 Million from California's General Fund to Expand Death Row
Despite California's $19 billion budget deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration said Wednesday it will borrow nearly $65 million from the state's cash-strapped general fund to begin building a new 1,152-bed death row at San Quentin State Prison. CLICK HERE to read more in the Sacramento Bee.

The Governor's proposal came under immediate attack by Assemblyman Jared Huffman and state Sen. Mark Leno, both of whom have repeatedly opposed the governor's efforts to expand the facility. CLICK HERE to read the Contra Costa Times article about their efforts to stop the expansion.

August 4, 2010

Victims' Family Satisfied with Life Without Parole
The court proceedings against Columbus Allen Jr. II dragged on for more than four years and then came to an abrupt and somewhat surprising conclusion Monday morning with his guilty plea to the 2006 murder of California Highway Patrolman Earl Scott.

It is, we think, the best outcome for this horrific crime. Allen, 34, will spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole.

Bill Scott, Earl's father, told The Bee that he was satisfied with the resolution, in part because it assures that the family will see Allen punished for his crime.

CLICK HERE to read more.

July 27, 2010

Public Opinion is Shifting
"The majority of Californians now favor permanent imprisonment over the death penalty. That includes murder victims' family members like me," said Judy Kerr. CLICK HERE to read CCV's latest blog entry on the Death Penalty Focus blog.

July 22, 2010

Field Poll Shows That More Voters Prefer Permanent Imprisonment Over the Death Penalty
According to the Field Poll released today, 70% of registered voters said they supported the death penalty. However, when asked which sentence they preferred for a first-degree murderer, 42 percent said life in prison without parole and 41 percent said death.

Consider joining the public debate by submitting a letter to the editor to any of these newspapers!!

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