Our Most Recent Mailing

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Dear Friend,
 
Thanks to your support, and in collaboration with our allies, VADP has continued to make great strides in 2010.  During the recent General Assembly session, VADP led the effort to defeat the most dangerous death penalty expansion bills and helped ensure passage of a much-needed reform bill.  We have continued to grow our membership and to strengthen and expand our Board of Directors.  With your ongoing support, we will continue implementing our long range plan to build an effective death penalty abolition movement in Virginia – and then, to abolish it.
 
The two expansion bills would have made principals in the second degree and accessories before the fact eligible for the death penalty (a.k.a eliminating the “triggerman rule”).  Governor McDonnell had previously promised to sign any expansion legislation that reached his desk, so it was critical to act before that happened.  Thanks to your dedication in contacting your legislators during the session and the presence of so many VADP supporters at committee hearings, we defeated these two bills in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee!  Meanwhile, we won passage of a reform bill that increases the fairness of capital trials for indigent defendants, thereby reducing the likelihood of death penalties in such cases.
 
Our membership campaign continues to bear fruit.  So far this year, more than 100 new people have become active members of VADP.  The number of Virginia voices calling for reforms and abolition continues to increase, making VADP a stronger and more influential organization.  Our legislative victories in 2010 are a testament to the dedication of our supporters and the success of our grassroots advocacy efforts.
 
We have added two new board members so far this year, as part of our effort to continue strengthening our Board.  The new members are Linell Patterson, an RN in the Harrisonburg area, who brings to the Board the perspective of a family member of murder victims, and Matthew Engle, an attorney who has defended death penalty cases and now works at the Innocence Project at the UVA Law School. 
 
As you may know, our Executive Director, Beth Panilaitis, recently left us to accept a position with another non-profit.  The good news is that Beth is now a volunteer and supporter of VADP, a role she played by participating in a recent weekend retreat of the Board of Directors.  At the retreat, the Board took the important step of forming strong and accountable board committees.  We started the process of searching for a new Executive Director and continued the development of our long range plan to end capital punishment in Virginia.  We need your help to make this plan a reality.
 
Please help move Virginia closer to our goal by completing the enclosed form and sending your tax-deductible contribution today.  You can also make a credit card donation by visiting our website www.vadp.org or calling toll-free at (888) 567- 8237.
 
Jonathan Sheldon, Board President   
                                                                                                           
P.S. from Beth Panilaitis:  I want all of you to know that I have not abandoned VADP, but have simply transitioned from Executive Director to volunteer and supporter!  I have already made my first financial contribution to VADP.  Please join me by being as generous as you can in contributing to help end the death penalty in Virginia.
                                                                                   
 
 
 
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