The death penalty landscape is constantly changing, influenced by public opinion, politics, courts, media coverage, and so much more. The Death Penalty Information Center tracks local and national data, analyzes trends, issues reports, provides historical context, and tells the human stories of those affected by capital punishment. We report on secrecy, call out government overreach and abuse, correct false narratives, and dispel myths. The facts tell the true story of the death penalty, which is why DPI is the authoritative source for journalists, attorneys, legislators, judges, educators, and researchers.
But we need your help. DPI is funded entirely by donations from generous supporters like you. At a time when transparency and accountability are more essential than ever, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to support the work that shines a bright light on the death penalty. Over the last 35 years, DPI has played a leading role in ensuring an accurate understanding of capital punishment:
• Our Exoneration List, originally created in 1993 at the request of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights, is considered the authoritative count of the innocent human beings who have been wrongfully convicted, sentenced to death, and later exonerated. The list now contains 200 names.
• Our Death Penalty Census is the single most comprehensive database of death sentences in existence, containing information on nearly 10,000 death penalty cases.
• Journalists and researchers around the world rely on our continuously updated website, containing hundreds of pages of state-specific news, information, and data, as well as DPI’s Year End Report that summarizes and contextualizes the year’s events.
• Voters find the facts and data they need to make informed decisions about elected officials, legislation, and taxpayer priorities.
Your donation says that telling the truth about the death penalty matters. Please consider making a one-time or monthly donation today to help us continue our essential work.
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