The average American could be forgiven for not knowing the name Cesare Beccaria, or his impact on this nation’s laws. John Bessler’s new book The Birth of American Law (Carolina Academic Press, 2014), however, seeks to change that by highlighting Beccaria’s influence upon America’s founders. Bessler’s recent Op-Ed in The National Law Journal (a free read by logging in) details Beccaria’s specific influence upon Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and others through his little-known work, On Crime and Punishments. The Italian philosopher deeply opposed the death penalty, and his work, once published into English in 1767, gained a foothold among the leaders of the burgeoning nation.

Nearly 250 years after the publishing of Beccaria’s English edition, criminal justice reform, of which the death penalty is a key part, reemerges as a major issue within American politics. None other than former President Bill Clinton recently claimed that candidates in the 2016 Presidential election would have to address these issues. In recent years, the Constitution has been a wedge in modern politics, yet Bessler’s work is a timely addition to the ongoing debate on the Founders’ intentions for the nation. Regardless, this book debunks yet another myth about the death penalty in America.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be very much dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

The last few days have been a bit of whirlwind for Bryan Stevenson of Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a whirlwind for which activists in the death penalty and mass incarceration movements will surely reap the benefits. Stevenson’s book Just Mercy was released on Tuesday, October 21 to good reviews such as this one in the New York Times. This coming just a few days after the Times covered Stevenson’s EJI work, referencing Desmond Tutu’s appraisal of Stevenson as “America’s young Nelson Mandela.” But perhaps Stevenson’s appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brought the most attention to the critical issues within the movement right now, given the show’s millions of nightly viewers.

Bryan Stevenson’s work is emblematic of the daily fight those within the death penalty abolition movement pursue, as well as those who take up other causes. As Stevenson uses his platform to draw more attention to these issues, we are reminded to do the same, particularly during election season. Who will speak up for the poor and disenfranchised, the imprisoned and those to be executed? We urge you to get involved, particularly as ten men are scheduled to die in Tennessee.

Photo source: http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/bryan_stevenson_huntsville_ims.html

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

On Sunday, the Tennessean endorsed Governor Bill Haslam for a second term, citing his leadership on issues ranging from higher education, Tennessee’s economy, and a tough response to domestic violence. Additionally, Haslam was lauded for displaying leadership to temper the more extreme factions of his party. All of this led the editorial staff to conclude that the governor deserved a second term.

However, the paper thought there was room for improvement as well, specifically naming capital punishment as one area that required more leadership from Haslam. They challenged Haslam’s long-stated stance that the “will of the people” is sufficient reason to back off of personal convictions. “As governor, we believe he should be the voice of reason,” the Tennessean stated, “balancing compassion with law and order.” The paper’s endorsement comes on the same day that death row inmate Olen Hutchison died of natural causes while awaiting a May 2015 execution date. Although Hutchison was not even present during the murder for which he faced execution, he was circumstantially implicated by co-defendants who obtained reduced sentences for their testimony. Former Chief Justice Reid of the Tennessee Supreme Court decried the death penalty for Hutchison and the District Attorney General who prosecuted the case concedes there is room for honest doubt as to whether death was ever the appropriate punishment.

The Tennessean is right that a second term gives the Governor another opportunity to conduct a serious review of the state’s failing death penalty.  As more Tennesseans understand just how flawed this system is, the “will of the people” is shifting. If the death penalty is, in fact, a system that metes out arbitrary sentences and subsequent punishments costing taxpayers millions without making us safer, then Governor Haslam must exercise his authority, reason, and compassion to speak honestly and lead the people of Tennessee to understand just how flawed the policy is. This is what a leader does.

Photo source: http://www.tn.gov/governor/about.shtml

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual claim among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile malfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

Last night I visited First United Methodist Church of Murfreesboro to serve as the guest speaker for the last class of an eight- week series on the death penalty.  And, as in most discussions about the death penalty, participants invariably tried to put themselves in the shoes of those who have lost loved ones to murder. They wondered how they would feel, react, respond to such a horrific event.  Most really couldn’t fathom such a reality, never mind imagine what they might need in terms of emotional, spiritual, financial, and community support. None of us ever wants to be in a position to know how we might respond, what we might need. It is just too devastating to think about.

Still, for far too many people, the issue is not theoretical but all too real. They are living in the wake of violent crime with all its ripple effects. A report just released from the Department of Justice determined that nearly 70% of people suffer severe social or emotional problems after being the victim of a violent crime, but only about 12% of those individuals receive help from victim services. Just over half of victims who suffer from such problems report the crime to the police.

This is unacceptable.  Though I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers in how to reach all these hurting people, I am convinced that the pursuit of the death penalty only shifts attention and resources away from the needs of the surviving families and instead focuses our energy and resources on the perpetrator, often for decades in pursuit of the death penalty before the sentence is carried out, if ever. What would it be like if instead, we relied on alternatives sentences that provided legal finality to surviving families much quicker while focusing our resources and attention on how to best meet their needs long-term and  to get help for all those impacted by violent crime.

If this was our course of action, we would actually serve to heal and restore lives and communities, not only helping those most impacted by the violence but also helping to reduce possible future violence by the walking wounded whose needs for healing were never met. Some of these very wounded individuals will end up in our jails and prisons only after more damage has been done.

The state of Maryland recently took part of the savings from repeal of the death penalty and allocated it to assist surviving family members of murder. This is a positive first step in identifying the needs of victims’ families and getting them the help that they need. Though Tennessee has wonderful advocates working on behalf of crime victims everyday, imagine how much more these advocates could do with greater resources and support. With more budget cuts looming in out state, Tennesseans must decide what is most important to us, what we most value, and what is best for our communities. This report gives us all something to think about.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be so dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

On September 25th, the Tennessee State Supreme Court delayed the scheduled execution of Billy Ray Irick, originally slated for October 7, while litigation is pending.  This means that Irick will not be executed on October 7 and that his execution will be rescheduled. TADP is grateful for this temporary reprieve and has postponed the vigil scheduled for that day in both Nashville and Memphis.

As we await and see how the courts will rule, we continue to encourage all TADP supporters to sign and share the open letter to Governor Haslam in order to gather as many signatures as possible before a new date is set.

TADP will keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Photograph from  the Tennessean.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile malfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile malfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

Today we take time to remember all those who have lost their lives to murder as well as their grieving family, friends, and communities. TADP is deeply grateful for the individuals and organizations in Tennessee that work to support and advocate for victims of violence and their families and for those whose work focuses on crime prevention and making our communities safer for everyone.

We at TADP are continually humbled by the stories of the surviving family members of murder victims in our state. We hope that in our work, we can broaden the conversation to go beyond how to punish those who offend and instead focus our energy and resources more on how to support those who have been so deeply offended.  The needs of murder victims’ families are many–emotional, financial, spiritual–and don’t end when a trial is over.  For some families, cases go unsolved and they live everyday without any answers.

Today is about remembering those whose lives were taken senselessly and too soon while also reflecting on how we as a society can offer families so much more as they struggle to put their lives together again.  Take a moment to say a prayer, light a candle, or sit in silence to honor these individuals today.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be very much dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

On September 22 in Nashville, Bryan Stevenson received the 2014 Belmont College of Law Champions for Justice Award. Stevenson works on a number of criminal justice issues, including the death penalty and sentencing reforms as the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (Montgomery, AL). Stevenson’s tireless work, particularly on behalf of people of color suffering disproportionately in the current criminal justice system, earned him this latest accolade.

Stevenson encouraged the packed chapel of students, administrators, faculty, and community activists to place themselves within the proximity of those who are suffering in order to truly understand the wounds inflicted by poverty, incarceration, and lack of opportunity. He acknowledged that  the work to alleviate such suffering will not be easy, and as Mrs. Rosa Parks once told him when she was visiting Montgomery, “it will make you tired, tired, tired.”  Nevertheless, Stevenson called people of faith to be hopeful in their work, giving examples of transformation, even in unlikely people and places, that occur all the time when people get educated or connected to those who suffer under the current system. Stevenson’s final charge was for all attendees to remember that no person can be categorized by the worst thing that they have done–there is more to everyone that that. For people of faith, who hold to the power of redemption and work for criminal justice reform, Stevenson’s reminder was a powerful concluding word.

We applaud Belmont Law School for honoring Bryan Stevenson, even as our state prepares to execute eleven men. The courts continue to deliberate about Tennessee’s lethal injection protocols, the state’s secrecy around the source of the lethal injection drugs, as well as the possible use of the electric chair. The clock is ticking as Billy Ray Irick’s execution is set for October 7, 2014.  If you have not yet signed the open letter to the Governor encouraging him to halt all executions until system can be reviewed please do so here.  TADP is planning a vigil should this execution move forward to occur in Nashville at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution at 5:30 on Oct. 7 and in Memphis at noon on at First United Methodist Church, 204 N. Second St. 38105.

Also, if you wish to know more about Bryan Stevenson check out Equal Justice Initiative as well as Stevenson’s new book Just Mercy set to be released on October 21, 2014. You can also listen to Stevenson’s TED Talk here. Stevenson will be back in Nashville at the Re-Visioning Justice Conference at Vanderbilt University as a keynote speaker, along with Howard Zehr, from April 17-19, 2015, hosted by the Cal Turner Program for Moral Leadership.

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Stevenson

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile malfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be very much dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

On Tuesday, Henry Lee McCollum and Leon Brown walked out of a North Carolina prison where they had spent the last 30 years. McCollum, the state’s longest serving death row inmate was freed after DNA connected the crime to someone else. He had been on death row for over three decades – since he was 19 years old. Leon Brown, McCollum’s brother, was also released.

The only evidence tying McCollum and Brown to the crime were coerced confessions that law enforcement obtained from the disabled teens (who, even as adults, have the intellectual ability of children)–the only evidence tying them to the crime. McCollum first told police that he knew nothing about the murder, but at 2 a.m. on Sept. 29, 1983, after five hours of intense interrogation, he signed a confession written by police. Soon after, his younger brother, Brown, also confessed.

McCollum and Brown were originally prosecuted by Robeson County District Attorney Joe Freeman Britt, whose nickname “World’s Deadliest DA” was earned after he won nearly 50 death sentences during his 12 year career as chief prosecutor. At that time, there were no laws exempting juveniles or those with intellectual
disabilities from the death penalty.

In 1991, courts granted the brothers new trials because of improper jury instructions. Brown’s murder charge was dismissed, but he was convicted of rape and given a life sentence. McCollum was again convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

In 1994, When the Supreme Court decided not to review a death row case out of Texas, Justice Harry A. Blackmun dissented, arguing the death penalty was cruel and unusual and therefore unconstitutional.
Scalia responded to Blackmun’s dissent by referencing the McCollum case and arguing that the death penalty was appropriate for the most heinous crimes, “For example, the case of an 11-year-old girl raped by four men and then killed by stuffing her panties down her throat,” Scalia wrote in Collins v. Collins. “How enviable a quiet death by lethal injection compared with that!”

Justice Scalia’s “case in point” for the use of the death penalty in the U.S. is now a “case in point,” for why the system cannot be trusted to determine who lives and who dies as McCollum and Brown become the 145th and 146th individuals exonerated and freed from death row nationwide.

Had it not been for unrelated execution delays in the state of North Carolina, these men would likely have already been executed. Read more about these exonerations.

Photo source: http://www.wral.com/after-30-years-in-prison-for-murder-half-brothers-walk-free/13946572/

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be so dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

George Barrett, a Tennessee lawyer who long fought for civil rights, died on Tuesday, August 26, at the age of 86. “The Citizen” as he often called himself, defended student demonstrators in the 1960’s  fighting for integration, and decades later, led the defense working for clemency for Tennessee death row inmate, Gaile Owens.  She ultimately was granted clemency and paroled in 2011.

George was always willing to share his insights, experience, and wit with us at TADP, and we are grateful for his legacy and his outspoken opposition to the death penalty.

With the recent death of John Seigenthaler and now George Barrett, we recognize the profound loss felt by our state as well as the contributions that these men made in creating a more more just and equitable place for us to live.  As we mourn, we also can be inspired to take up the mantle and continue the work before us.

Tennessee stands on the precipice of 11 executions, an unprecedented number. We all “the Citizens” of this great state must  act now to keep these executions from happening.  If you haven’t already, please sign the open letter to Governor Haslam, asking him to stop these executions in order for a review of this state’s flawed death penalty system, as outlined by the Tennessee Committee to Study the Administration of the Death Penalty, can be conducted.

Read more about George Barrett in the Tennessean.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile disfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be very much dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.