Ohio Death Row Support Forum - Action alert from OTSE.

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Dec 2, 2009, 4:27am

Ohio Death Row Support Forum :: The Death Penalty and Lethal Injection :: Pending Ohio Executions, Urgent Actions Needed :: Action alert from OTSE.

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Topic: Action alert from OTSE. (Read 28 times)

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Action alert from OTSE.
« Thread Started on Oct 8, 2009, 2:22pm »

Action alert from OTSE.

We’ve seen several historic developments over the last few weeks concerning the lethal injection process in Ohio. Following the botched execution attempt of Romell Broom on September 15th, national attention has been focused on this situation and the world has watched to see how Ohio would react.

On Monday, Governor Strickland granted short reprieves to Lawrence Reynolds and Darryl Durr. Even with these reprieves, there are still five executions scheduled in the next six months. This spectacle has highlighted the rampant flaws in our death penalty system.

The governor made the right decision not allowing Thursday’s execution to go forward. The larger issue, which has been left out of the conversation completely, is that the death penalty does more harm to victims’ family members, causes trauma for Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections staff, risks executing the wrong person, costs exorbitantly more than a life sentence and is racially and geographically skewed.

OTSE members and supporters recognize that the current discourse and debate about lethal injection misses the mark entirely. Since mid-September the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections "has been working to establish a back-up or alternative lethal injection protocol that would be available should those responsible for carrying out executions for the State ever again be unable to access a sustainable vein at the time of an execution," according to Governor Strickland.

Rather than focus the State’s time and resources on fixing the lethal injection protocol, Ohio should be looking seriously at the harm the entire death penalty system does to Ohio families, corrections employees, the financial health of our state and the integrity of our justice system. Just this week two more death row exonerations were announced in Oklahoma bringing the national tally to 138.

Now, more than ever, is the time for the State to put a moratorium on all executions and carefully review its process and consider alternative options. Sadly, executions have been botched before and family members of murder victims have been revictimized time and time again. This is not the first time and will not be the last time. The best solution for Ohio is to adopt alternatives to the death penalty.

There are two actions you can take to help get Ohio on the right track:

1. Contact Governor Strickland. Call or write Governor Strickland to acknowledge he was right to grant reprieves to Lawrence Reynolds and Darryl Durr. While you have his attention, let him know you want to see him demonstrate leadership on the issue by charging the state legislature to re-examine the death penalty through a comprehensive study.

Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108

Phone: (614) 466-3555
To contact the Governor Online;
http://governor.ohio.gov/Assistance/ContacttheGovernor/tabid/150/Default.aspx

2. Change the conversation. There has been a great deal coverage about this development. While the coverage in many papers has been largely positive, the online postings are overly representative of a pro-death penalty faction. We know this isn’t the view of all Ohioans, so be sure your voice is heard by adding your comments to an online story. This will also encourage reporters to write about the issue in a new context.

3 simple steps to change the conversation online:
- Find the link below to your local paper where you wish to post.
- Create the username and password then wait a moment for the confirmation to arrive in your e-mail inbox.
- Go to the link below to your paper, read the article then post your comments. You may be prompted to sign-in to your brand new account. **Write down your username and password for future comments you want to post.

Things you can mention in your online comments:

• The debate over lethal injection misses the larger issue of whether or not we should be in the business of taking lives when our system has demonstrated to be chocked full of errors.

• Serious questions remain unanswered about the cost of the death penalty, the effect this punishment has on murder victims’ families, and Ohio’s ability to only convict the guilty.

• The state puts itself at risk of facing legal challenges by continuing to execute while problems exist which ultimately harm victims’ family members.

• With 5 exonerations under our belt, Ohio has demonstrated its system is not error-proof and never will be. Life sentences will ensure we don't cause irrevocable harm by executing innocent people.

• It was prudent to acknowledge such huge problems with lethal injection can’t be fixed overnight. We’d be wise to ensure that the same is true of our entire death penalty system.

• Recent events have highlighted the flaws imbedded in the capital punishment system. These imperfections need more than a band aid approach and a quick-fix.

News Article:
Cincinnati Enquirer article http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091....omment%20(http ://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=zagform&Destination=http%253A//news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs. dll/section%253FCategory%253Dpluckcomments%2526key%253D20091005.cincinnati.AB910060304.article.NEWS01%2526s%253Dd

Thank you for your willingness to act at such a crucial time. Please do not hesitate to contact any OTSE staff if you have questions - Northern Ohio at 216-688-1180, Southern Ohio at 513-543-1585 and Central Ohio at 614-560-0654.

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