The Death Penalty

ABOLISHING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

"I oppose the death penalty in all cases. I am proud that the great state of Wisconsin was the first in the country to abolish the death penalty, when it did so in 1853.

In 1999, I introduced a bill to abolish the death penalty and called on all states to end the practice. It is time for America to leave the death penalty behind and take a hard look at its justice system, one that adds to a culture of violence and killing.

We cannot allow the spectacle of constant executions to be swept under the rug. We know that already one hundred individuals who were on death row have been released. And we should shudder to think how many people have been sent to their deaths that were innocent. I fear if we don't keep the focus on the death penalty, many more mistakes will be made.

At the minimum, we must enact legislation to pass a national moratorium on the death penalty in all states in this country and at the federal level as well. In 2000, I introduced the Federal Death Penalty Moratorium Act. This bill would suspend all Federal executions while a commission undertakes a thorough and comprehensive review of the death penalty. According to a 2000 poll released by the Justice Project, 64 percent of Americans said they support suspending executions while questions of fairness are addressed. It is troubling when the federal government, which should be leading the states on matters of equality, justice and fairness, has a system that is unjust.

We are at a defining moment in the history of our nation's administration of the death penalty. Americans support suspending executions while the disturbing racial and geographic biases of the death penalty are examined. The time to do something is now."

ACHIEVEMENTS

Taking the Lead on a Moratorium: In 2000, Senator Feingold introduced the National Death Penalty Moratorium Act. This bill would suspend executions at both the state and federal levels while a blue ribbon commission reviews the administration of the death penalty in our nation. Also in 2000, Senator Feingold introduced the Federal Death Penalty Moratorium Act, which would place a moratorium on all executions by the federal government while a blue ribbon commission reviews defects in the administration of the federal death penalty.

Leading the Fight to Abolish the Death Penalty: Senator Feingold introduced a bill on November 10, 1999 to abolish the federal death penalty in the United States and called on all states that impose the death penalty to cease the practice.

Supporting Legal Safeguards in Capital Cases: Senator Feingold strongly supports the Innocence Protection Act, a bill that provides critical new safeguards in capital cases to prevent the execution of an innocent person. Most urgently, the Innocence Protection Act affords greater access to DNA testing by convicted offenders and improves the quality of legal representation in capital cases.

READ MORE

Feingold wants U.S. to lead way, (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, December 13, 2002)

Illinois Gov.: 'No Regrets' for Death Penalty Halt, (The New York Times, June 12, 2002)

A New Millenium: Time To Stop Tinkering with the Machinery of Death, (Remarks of Senator Russ Feingold at Columbia University School of Law, April 10, 2000)

Click here to read more about Senator Feingold and Maryland's decision to put a moratorium on the death penalty.