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For sixteen years, Philly native Harold Wilson served time for a murder that he was later found innocent of. What does living on death row for that long do to a person?-especially if one is not guilty? Are there others who are waiting to die yet are not guilty?
These questions and others will be discussed on Tuesday April 10th, 8pm at Circle of Hope East (map here) at an event brought to you by the Circle of Peacemakers and Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Harold Wilson will be there, talking about his life, his story, his work, and some of what he sees as a need for serious change.
Here is an article in the City Paper about him. This article mentions that since the mid-1970’s, PA has found that twice as many people were innocent on death row as have been executed (3 killed, 6 released). Does this stir up anything for you?
Here are a couple of other facts from the PADP
Of the 200 prisoners on death row in PA, 70% are people of color
More than half of the people on PA’s death row are from Philadelphia (which is 14% of the population of the state)
90% of people on death row in PA could not afford a lawyer for their initial trial. After going to death row, PA does not have funding for post-conviction legal defense.
since 1973 in the US, 123 death row inmates have been proven innocent.
What do you think? Post a comment, bring it up in your cell meeting, or come Tuesday night to the meeting at 8pm at East.
It seems an appropriate time to be focusing our attention on the death penalty in light of Jesus’ victory over death and the executioner’s cross.
I’m glad that we are working for the peace of Jesus and not simply to a political end.
Here are a few thoughts that I “borrowed” from Mennonite Central Committe Guide to the Death Penalty.
Biblical and Theological Perspectives on the Death Penalty
Old Testament Themes
The Old Testament allows the death penalty to be applied in several cases, including adultery, accidental manslaughter and rebellious teenagers (Exodus 21). However, limitations are prominent. “An eye for an eye” was not a command to seek vengeance, but a limit on retribution. The standard of proof for death penalty convictions was higher than the current “beyond reasonable doubt” standard and required absolute certainty of at least two eye witnesses (Deuteronomy 17 and 19). Additionally, unequal wealth and power and unequal justice were as much a sin as were crimes.
Another theme in the Old Testament is mercy for the offender. After the first recorded murder, God grants protection to Cain, the murderer (Genesis 4). Cities of refuge were sanctuaries where the guilty could escape the revenge of the victim’s family (Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 4and 19, Joshua 20). The themes of Deuteronomy 32:35 (“To me belong vengeance and recompense”) and Leviticus 19:18 (“You shall not take vengeance but love your neighbor as yourself”) recur frequently in the Old Testament.
New Testament Themes
Jesus built on the Old Testament tradition that life is sacred. Jesus teaches that we are to love and forgive those who harm us. If we love God, Jesus says we are obligated to show that love in our actions toward others. Christ moves us from the Old Testament perspective of limited retaliation to non-retaliation and active love (Romans 12, I John 4, Luke 6:27–36).
Christ’s death on the cross, itself an application of capital punishment, canceled the Old Testament basis of shedding blood to testify to life’s sacredness (Hebrews 10). Christ died that others may live. By trading places with the guilty and the enemy, by dying in the place of the murderer Barabbas, Christ closed off any sacrificial reason for the death penalty.
Jesus did not die for some sinners. He died for all. Unless we believe that every person, whether murderer or not, is redeemable and must have the chance to be redeemed, there is no real gospel. Depriving a person of the possibility of reconciliation with God and humanity is the real tragedy of capital punishment.
Very interesting post. Something to think about. But there is a couple things that I wanted to point out about this. The data above is talking about PA and its criminal justice system, which is fine, but than it switches all of a sudden to the national level. One cannot compare the national level to a state level of crime and # of people released from prison. Doesn’t work that way. What is the PA number of cases of death row found innocent?
But if anything this does not mean that we are doing a horrible job in our justice system. The low number of people being let go speaks volume to the pre-incaration of the individual. It means that in most cases the justice system has reviewed and exhausted all evidence in the cases, and it has taken its time to convict the person. The average time for a murderer or someone on death rwo to be convicted after initial arrest is over a year. That speaks volumes to the accuracy and handeling of our justice system, especially compared to 90% of the world where a fair trial is something unheard of.
Also, it shows that justice it really being dispensed and that is a good thing. If we let every death row inmate go free, which some Christians advocate for, we would have anarchy and lawlessness. If I knew that I would be set free after being in prison for only a couple years I would commit any crime I wanted. I think the low number of people set free speaks highly that we value justice in this country.
But I do know that these are cases based on evidence, which in my opinion goes back to the first point I made that we do one heck of a good job making sure it is the right person first. That is true justice.
Blessings,
Note: We are trying to foment dialogue with people, not just banter about hypothetical situations. We will not post any more anonymous comments. If “truth seeker” wants their comment to be up for more than another day, please tell us who you are.