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Herndon Friends Meeting affirms the traditional Quaker opposition to capital punishment. Based on our understanding of the presence of that of God in everyone, we find execution unacceptable regardless of the circumstances. We believe that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent to murder and that revenge is an unworthy motive for a just society.
This position does not diminish our abhorrence for murder or our sympathy for the families and friends of those murdered, and we affirm our historical commitment to aid victims of violence.
Although we recognize that not all in our community share our belief that the death penalty is inherently wrong we desire to work with the many Virginians who are now distressed at the application of the death penalty in our state.
To have any claim to justice the use of capital punishment must be implemented fairly. We have substantial concern that the death penalty process in Virginia falls short of this minimal goal. The "21 day Rule" which prevents a court from reviewing any newly discovered evidence of innocence after 21 days have elapsed from the time of sentencing, the "Contemporaneous Objection Rule," which does not permit objections to be made in appeals if they were not made in the original trial, and the failure of the Commonwealth to require that evidence be preserved so that it may be presented in appeal proceedings are all aspects of death penalty procedure that indicate bias against the accused.
Because of these procedural deficiencies the application of capital punishment falls disproportionately on the poor, minority groups, and the mentally impaired.
Across the United States more than 80 people have been released from death row when their innocence has been proved after being sentenced. This process is costly, time consuming, and requires the highest level of legal expertise. Thus it is particularly distressing that the Commonwealth does not meet the American Bar Association’s standards for appointment, performance and compensation of counsel for indigent prisoners. Indeed the American Bar Association has called for a moratorium on the death penalty, finding its implementation "a haphazard maze of unfair practices with no internal consistency."
Herndon Friends Meeting joins with those who call for a moratorium on the death penalty. We call on our Governor and representatives in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates to halt executions in Virginia.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee
Herndon Friends Meeting
660 Spring Street
Herndon, Virginia
Accepted in Meeting for Business 5-21-00