Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Alternatives to the Death Penalty

The Penal Alternatives

Oregon law currently provides three possible sentences for the crime of aggravated murder:  Death, life imprisonment without possibility of parole (“true life”), or life imprisonment with the possibility (not a guarantee) of parole after serving a minimum of 30 years.  No lesser sentence is available—Oregonians need no longer fear that those convicted of aggravated murder will be released after just a few years to kill again.  These life-sentence alternatives are sufficient to hold offenders accountable and to protect society from further harm at their hands.  OADP supports replacing the death penalty with life without possibility of parole as the most serious sanction for aggravated murder.  

The Preventive and Restorative Alternatives

OADP supports the redirection of the millions of dollars wasted each year pursuing the death penalty to victims’ support and proven violence prevention programs such as the following:
• Counseling and compensation for the surviving family members of homicide victims.
• Cold case units to investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of unsolved murder cases.
• Counseling and support groups to reduce child abuse and enhance parenting skills.
• Domestic violence prevention and protection programs.
• Drug courts and substance abuse treatment programs.
• Mental health courts and community-based mental health treatment programs.
• Restorative justice programs such as victim-offender mediation and facilitated dialogue.
• Early childhood education programs.
• Offender re-entry support programs.

OADP encourages its members around the state to take action in their communities in support of such alternatives.

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