Ashley Abraham COMM 535 Beat Proposal September 4, 2012

Thirty-three U.S. states allow for the death penalty; of those, 13 states have active legislation that would abolish the death penalty indicating a move away from capital punishment. Moreover, a 2011 Gallop Poll, (http://www.gallup.com/poll/1606/death-penalty.aspx) shows that support for the death penalty is at a 40 year low. The introduction of state legislation and the decline in support for the death penalty creates an opportune moment for investigating its role in the United States today. My background in death penalty issues, previous relationships with organizations, and proven dedication to the issue have prepared me to undertake this topic. I propose to use resources available to me to provide an analysis of the current political state of capital punishment, the social issues embedded within and attitudes toward the death penalty in America. Since 1973, 140 people have been fully exonerated. This does not include the inmates that have been released but not cleared of their crimes and the numerous others who remain imprisoned but who have been granted clemency. Scientific advancements in DNA sequencing, arson science and other forensic technologies have made this possible. However, other inadequacies are persistent in the administration of the death penalty. Despite the Supreme Court Ruling in Atkins v. Virginia in 2002 that protects people with intellectual disabilities from the death penalty, states routinely execute those with an I.Q. of less than 70 and those with mental illnesses. This common practice goes without notice.

It is also imperative to examine issues of prosecutorial misconduct, negligence, racial discrimination and the efficacy of lethal injections. Several states have acknowledged these issues though executions proceed as scheduled. Misinformation and a lack of information are two driving factors behind support for the death penalty. My inquiry into capital punishment began several years ago. At that time I was not immune to this sort of ignorance. After having the opportunity to interview Melinda Elkins-Dawson, I began to understand the importance of fairly evaluating the death penalty. Dawson is at once a family member of a murder victim, the wife of a convicted murderer and an outspoken advocate against the death penalty. Her husband Clarence was convicted of murdering her mother. After Dawsons personal investigative work, Clarence was released from prison. She inspired me to educate myself and to care about this issue that is so easily disregarded. Since that time I have been active as an advocate against the death penalty. After meeting with Dawson, a colleague and I decided to develop a TV pilot that explored the death penalty and those affected by it. I have also been involved with the Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE) and look for new opportunities to become involved whenever possible. I have several contacts within OTSE, including the director Kevin Werner. Through my involvement with this organization, I have contact with Ohio Representative Ted Celeste who introduced H.B. 160, a bill to abolish the death penalty in Ohio. I have also had the opportunity to meet Sister Helen Prejean, famous for the movie Dead Man Walking which chronicles her involvement with a death row inmate. She and I remain in contact through Facebook. Melinda Elkins-Dawson remains a friend and colleague and her contacts with the Innocence Project and murder victims families are open to me.

Furthermore, there are numerous organizations, legislators and scholars in the Washington D.C. area available for comment. Through this project I hope to cultivate new sources on

both sides of the death penalty debate. There is no shortage of material to cover regarding the fair and ethical administration of the death penalty and there is a need that has yet to be met by media coverage. It is often a difficult issue to cover but that is not to say that it should not be discussed. Given the current political climate and changing attitudes of Americans, an investigation of the death penalty is both socially relevant and necessary.