Main Content

Support for abolition in Kansas extends across the political spectrum
"Kansas criminal justice system is too imperfect to trust it with the death penalty"
Education is an important part of our mission
Some of the Kansans who have lost a loved one to homicide and who call for death penalty abolition
Lobby Day participant jotting notes on her legislative visits
Kansas religious leaders present a faith leader abolition letter with over 430 signatures to legislative allies.
previous arrow
next arrow
 

OUR FEATURED POSTS

Judge Klapper cites critical flaws with Kansas’ death penalty

May 5, 2025

The Kansas death penalty has been ‘on trial’ before Judge Bill Klapper in Wyandotte District Court since late October 2024. The State Board of Indigent Defense Services, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Kansas ACLU, and attorneys from Hogan Lovells, and Ali & Lockwood filed a constitutional challenge on behalf of two men who were charged with capital murder in Wyandotte County.  Their motion claimed that the Kansas capital punishment system was unconstitutional under state and federal law because it is cruel, unusual, biased and arbitrary. On April 16th Judge Klapper released his decision.  The constitutional challenge was ruled moot […]

[ Read More... ]

2025 Death Penalty Repeal Legislation Introduced!

February 11, 2025

HB 2272, by Representatives Schreiber, Ballard, Carmichael, Osman, Sutton and Wasinger, was introduced on February 5th.  It has been referred to House Judiciary. SB 245 was introduced through Senate Judiciary Committee.  It has been referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. Both bills would end the death penalty for aggravated murders happening on or after July 1, 2025.  The sentence would be life without parole.   Why repeal? Many Kansans oppose the death penalty because it violates their moral principles. Other Kansans want to end it because of its many practical problems. The death penalty puts extra burdens on taxpayers.  In 2014, […]

[ Read More... ]

OUR RECENT POSTS

Thirty years of the Kansas Death Penalty: It’s not Symbolic

On July 1st, the Kansas death penalty law turned thirty.  As we talk with ordinary Kansans, we discover that on occasion, someone does not even know that Kansas has a death penalty law on the books. Here are some basic stats. 15 men have been sentenced to death. 9 inmates are … [ Read More... ]

Senate Execution Method Bill Introduced

      On Monday March 4th, SB 534 was introduced by Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee.  It has been referred to Senate Judiciary. This bill contains the same faulty elements as HB 2782. The bill would provide for an option of hypoxia as an alternative … [ Read More... ]

Kansas House Judiciary Hears Death Penalty Related Bill

HB 2782—Execution by Hypoxia+ Hearing: On February 8th the House Judiciary Committee introduced HB 2782 to provide an alternate method of execution, by infliction of hypoxia, and to also make changes in the legal process.  The bill also would make changes in who chooses the drugs for lethal … [ Read More... ]

March 1st Christina Swarns: Justice Delayed is Democracy Denied

Christina Swarns, Executive Director of the Innocence Project, will speak at the March 1st Peace Lecture at Bethel College.  The time is 7 p.m. and the location will be Memorial Hall. Her keynote title is "Justice Delayed is Democracy Denied". The next day she will participate in a keynote … [ Read More... ]

KCADP Statement on Introduction of HB 2782 –Nitrogen asphyxiation execution

"The method of execution in Kansas is not the issue.   The existence of the Kansas death penalty itself IS the issue. Kansas continues to waste taxpayer dollars, harm victim families and prison staff,  risk the lives of the innocent, and violate the morals of many Kansans for a public policy … [ Read More... ]