We are an organization dedicated to deepening and broadening the discourse about the death penalty.

We believe meaningful conversation with those whose opinions differ from ours makes for a better, more compassionate society. Such conversations require honesty, commitment and a willingness to probe and become informed about often difficult issues.

Here on our site you will find information about our organization and the projects we foster, including:

• The Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project ("The Play Project")
• The Moratorium Campaign
• Sister Helen Prejean's books and talks

Each year, the Death Penalty Information Center publishes a report on the death penalty in the US. Highlights from the 2007 report include:

• There were 42 executions in 2007, the lowest in 13 years.
• 62% of all executions occurred in Texas.
• 86% of all executions occurred in the South.
• 110 (projected) death sentences, the lowest in 30 years.
• There were 3 exonerations and 11 commutations.
• New Jersey and New York joined the other 12 states which have abolished the death penalty.

Read the full report (in Adobe PDF format) now.

New Jersey has become the first state to abolish the death penalty since its reintroduction in 1976. The Senate and Assembly passed the bill last week and this week Governor Corzine signed it into law in the presence of Republican and Democrat legislators, murder victims' families, Sister Helen Prejean of the Death Penalty Discourse Network, and other supporters.

Watch the news conference featuring Sister Helen Prejean and the New Jersey Speaker of the Assembly, Joseph Roberts Jr., from just a few weeks ago when they announced they would push for the death penalty's abolition.