In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you’ll find updates on scheduled executions and other Texas death penalty cases, a new report on exonerations in 2019, and recommended films, podcasts and other popular media on the death penalty.
Category: Wrongfully Convicted
In this edition of our monthly alert, you’ll find details on a new film about the true Texas story of Cameron Todd Willingham, as well as coverage of two recent reports, the debut novel of attorney David R. Dow, and the stay of execution for Dexter Johnson.
Clarence Brandley, who spent nine years on death row in Texas before his exoneration in 1990, passed away on September 2, 2018 at the age of 66. He came within six days of being executed for a crime he did not commit.
According to a new report from the National Registry of Exonerations, 139 wrongfully convicted individuals were exonerated in 2017. This includes four people who had been sentenced to death. The leading cause in last year’s exonerations was official misconduct, particularly concealing exculpatory evidence.
MEDIA ADVISORY October 27, 2015 CONTACT: Vanessa Akins, Communications Coordinator 512-441-1808 (office); 979-481-2709 (cell) vanessa@tcadp.org Death Row Exonoree Anthony Graves to Visit Austin Special event taking place at critical time in state’s experience with the death penalty Austin, Texas – Anthony Graves, who survived the ultimate nightmare – 18 years in prison as an innocent […]
“Journey to Justice: A Speakers’ Tour Featuring Death Row Survivor Juan Roberto Melendez-Colon” will take place in the Metroplex from September 28 – October 2, 2014. Juan Melendez spent 17 years, 8 months, and 1 day on Florida’s death row for a crime he did not commit. He was exonerated and released on January 3, 2002.
The Chief Disciplinary Counsel of the State Bar of Texas has made a “just cause” determination with respect to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct against former Burleson County District Attorney Charles J. Sebesta, Jr. in his prosecution of Anthony Graves in 1994. As a result of Sebesta’s misconduct, Graves spent 18½ years of his life in prison, more than 12½ years of that on death row, for a crime he did not commit and of which he was later completely exonerated by honest prosecutors.
Earlier today, the Maryland Senate passed SB 276, a bill to replace the death penalty with life without parole, by a vote of 27-20. The vote occurred after three days of debate. It was the first time in decades that the full Senate considered repeal legislation, as previous efforts in that body had been blocked by […]