News

Why Abolition Makes Sense

There are many practical reasons to support death penalty abolition in Kansas.    They include the following:  Cost: A 2014 study by the Kansas Judicial Council Death Penalty Advisory Committee found defense and district court costs are 3-4 times more for cases where the death penalty is sought than for similar cases where it is not sought. Even when … [Read more...] about Why Abolition Makes Sense

48 Legislators Sign on to Kansas Abolition Legislation!!!!

The growing Kansas legislative support for abolition was clear with the introduction of HB 2349 and SB 211 in February. In the House, Rep. Mark Schreiber and thirty three of his House colleagues sponsored HB 2349.  Those co-sponsoring Representatives are: Amyx, Ballard, Blew, Carmichael, Concannon, Curtis, Donohoe, Eplee, Featherston, Haskins, Haswood, Highberger, … [Read more...] about 48 Legislators Sign on to Kansas Abolition Legislation!!!!

Kansas Death Penalty on Trial

The Kansas death penalty is being put on trial in a Sedgwick County capital murder case with a special set of hearings February 6 through 8. Kyle Young, an African American man, is charged with capital murder in the January 22, 2020 deaths of Alicia Roman and George Kirksey.  He faces the death penalty if convicted.   His attorneys have filed a pretrial challenge to the … [Read more...] about Kansas Death Penalty on Trial

The US Supreme Court: “Finality” Can Be More Important Than Innocence Issues

Protecting prisoners’ rights and avoiding executions of innocent people in federal courts is nigh onto impossible. A man is on death row in part because of poor lawyering.  Four federal judges have agreed the man may well be innocent but the Supreme Court couldn’t overturn his conviction or stop the state from executing him because of a Clinton-era law and the Supreme Court … [Read more...] about The US Supreme Court: “Finality” Can Be More Important Than Innocence Issues

The Death Penalty and Its Impact on Justice

When a homicide case is prosecuted as capital, there are ramifications for the justice system. The Fiscal Consequences It is well documented that death penalty cases take longer to make their way through the courts.  The 2014 Kansas Death Penalty Advisory Committee Report to the Judicial Council studied this impact from a cost perspective. Whether the case went to trial … [Read more...] about The Death Penalty and Its Impact on Justice

Death Penalty Abolition: The Necessary Milestone in the American Struggle for Racial Equality, Civil Rights and Criminal Justice Reform

  Please join us for the 2020 KCADP  Annual Meeting and Abolition Conference! November 14, 2020  1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Great speakers:  Bea Swoopes, Mark McCormick, Cheryl Pilate. No charge!  Open to KCADP members and the general public. Click here to view the full flyer. Questions:  Contact us at info@ksabolition.org or by calling … [Read more...] about Death Penalty Abolition: The Necessary Milestone in the American Struggle for Racial Equality, Civil Rights and Criminal Justice Reform

Kansas Reaches 55 Year Milestone: No Executions!

On June 22, Kansas will turn 55.  No it doesn’t mean Kansas can take money out of a retirement plan or get senior citizen discounts.  Rather, we celebrate 55 years without an execution conducted in the name of the people of Kansas! Kansas has long had a conflicted history regarding the death penalty.  That history set a foundation for the fifty five year milestone. A … [Read more...] about Kansas Reaches 55 Year Milestone: No Executions!