Educational Resource
Victim Advocates Against the Death Penalty
Victim Advocates Against the Death Penalty by Andrew Rivas
Losing a close family member to murder is a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. The effects on the family, and on the wider community, extend well beyond the initial shock, loss and trauma. A common assumption in this country is that families who have suffered this kind of loss will support the death penalty. That assumption is so widespread and unquestioned that a prosecutor will say to a grieving family, “We will seek the death penalty in order to seek justice for you.” A lawmaker introducing a bill to expand the application of the death penalty announces that he is doing this “to honor victims.” A politician believes that he or she must run on a pro-death penalty platform, or risk being labeled “soft on crime” and thus unconcerned about victims.
This sweeping assumption is wrong. Many family members of victims have argued passionately against the death penalty for their loved one’s killer. Vicki Schieber, for example, opposes the death penalty, believing that it will neither help her get justice for her daughter’s murder nor help her heal from her loss. Vicki believes responding to one killing with another killing does not honor her daughter, or help create the kind of society where human life and human rights are valued. Imposing the death penalty only creates another grieving family.
Our society is turning against the use of the death penalty. This trend is being shaped and led by the courageous witness of four people whose lives were tragically touched by murder, and who unexpectedly became public advocates against the use of the death penalty.