Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty | Ending the Death Penalty through Education, Organizing & Advocacy

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Death penalty expansion was defeated in the General Assembly in 2012.

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Testimonials from our Board of Directors

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Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is a statewide citizens’ organization dedicated to educating the public about alternatives to the death penalty.

Latest Headlines

May
9

Justice: The AG is right

In contrast to the knee-jerk right, he opposed expanding the death penalty by eliminating Virginia’s “triggerman rule,” out of concern that it could lead to miscarriages of justice.
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May
9

Va. has stockpile of drug used in lethal injection

Death-penalty critics say the Virginia Department of Corrections has a stockpile of an anesthesia drug used in executions that the Food and Drug Administration lists as being in short supply at hospitals, where it’s used during surgeries.
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Apr
29

Little Connecticut’s big message on the death penalty

By E.J. Dionne Jr., Published: April 29 GREENWICH, Conn. Since the 2010 elections, newly empowered conservative and Republican state legislatures have gained national attention with their wars on public employee unions, additional restrictions on abortion and new barriers to voting. Against this backdrop, the little state of Connecticut has loomed as a large progressive exception. Last [...]
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Apr
26

Cavalier Daily – Suit opposes injections: Department of Corrections follows incorrect execution protocol, attorneys allege

In administering a lethal injection, a barbiturate is used to put the inmate to sleep, followed by a drug which paralyzes the patient so he does not show pain from the ensuing heart attack, said Stephen Northup, the executive director of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. The deadly lethal injection shot is administered last.
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Apr
25

Shifts detected in support for death penalty

The campaign to abolish the death penalty has been freshly invigorated this month in a series of actions that supporters say represents increasing evidence that America may be losing its taste for capital punishment.
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Featured

Meghan Shapiro

VA attorney and VADP Board Member recently filed suit against the VA Dept. of Corrections for illegal practices in executions

Read the press release and full text of the writ.

Jerry Givens

Former Executioner

Family man, member of the church choir, artist...and former executioner of Virginia's Death Row...

A compelling, and surprisingly uplifting, conversation with Jerry about his unique experiences with life, prison, and death. Jerry is now on the Board of VADP.

Ray Krone

Witness to Innocence

Ray was sent to death row based on bite mark evidence and later exonerated by DNA evidence. He is now Dir. of Comm. for the nationwide organization of death row exonerees, Witness to Innocence.

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Life after Death Row - Video of Anthony Graves a year and a half after being exo...
2 days, 7 hours ago
"...he opposed expanding the death penalty by eliminating Virginia's "triggerman...
5 days, 1 hour ago
Reprieve contends that the use of pancuronium bromide is purely cosmetic so exec...
5 days, 1 hour ago
Please join us in Richmond this Saturday for this event. Come to hear two excel...
5 days, 2 hours ago