In December, Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty collaborated on a press briefing with our partners Witness to Innocence, Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, and Death Penalty Policy Project. These are some highlights.
“Shapiro ‘is taking the kind of leadership that we expect people with a strong moral compass and a strong understanding of public policy’ to be assuming, Robert Dunham, founder of the Death Penalty Policy Project, said at a news briefing this week.”
PennLive – Advocates push to end death penalty as Shapiro issues first reprieve, continuing moratorium
“The ‘contradictory trends indicate the growing disconnect between what elected officials do and what the public wants,’ the nonprofit’s findings said. According to the data, evidence points that the death penalty in 2025 is growing increasingly unpopular among the people, even as elected officials continue to schedule executions.”
TribLive – Death penalty trends show divide between public and officials
“Robert Dunham, director of the Death Penalty Policy Project, used Butler-Smith’s case to say it’s ‘not surprising’ many of the capital cases in Washington County involve child victims. ‘Because those cases are highly, highly emotional, and they provoke outrage,’ Dunham said.”
Observer-Reporter – Washington County focus of panel discussion on death penalty
“Gov. Josh Shapiro issued his first death penalty reprieve earlier this month, a low-profile decision that fulfills his promise to continue Pennsylvania’s moratorium on executions and reflects a broader political shift as advocates say momentum is slowly building toward abolishing capital punishment.”
Vanguard News Group – Shapiro’s death penalty reprieve marks a shift in Pennsylvania’s capital punishment laws
