VADP

I donate to VADP because I believe in its mission and because it has become a part of my support community as a murder victims’ family member.  In 2001 I lost my Dad and step-mom to a brutal murder.  When I went to the trials I continually heard how the death penalty was being sought to bring justice to the victims’ family, when in reality, my sister and I had specifically asked the prosecuting attorney to work towards life imprisonment.  To think that a person could be killed for my justice doesn’t align with my belief system and is a burden I carry.  The thought that another family would have to grieve this death for my justice is haunting.  The death penalty won’t honor my dad and step-mom, or bring any sort of healing.  

Nobody wants to live in a violent community and those of us for and against the death penalty alike are against murders and innocent people being tried and charged for crimes they didn’t commit.  I believe that we, as a culture and a country, are smarter than the system we have in place.  I donate to VADP because they’re working hard to create a different sort of system- one that I believe would bring me more healing and peace.  

- Linell Patterson, VADP Board Member

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Sixty people came out in Charlottesville to hear death row exoneree Nate Field tell his story of being wrongly convicted for a murder that he did not commit. VADP Director Steve Northup & Board Chair Matt Engle spoke about the death penalty in Virginia.

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