Alabama
Does my state have the death penalty?
Yes, Alabama has executed a total of 34 people since 1976.
What is my governor's position on the death penalty?
Governor Bob Riley (R) supports Alabama’s death penalty.
How many people are on Death Row in my state?
There are currently 186 prisoners on Death Row in Alabama. Out of the 186 prisoners on Death Row, 92 are black, 92 are white and 2 are Latino. Out of the 186 prisoners on Death Row, 3 of them are women.
Alabama is one of only three states where a judge can override a jury’s decision not to impose the death penalty.
Is there anything like the Center on Wrongful Convictions in my state?
The Equal Justice Initiative provides assistance for Death Row inmates during the post-conviction appeals process.
Was anyone on Death Row ever found innocent in my state?
Five innocent people were exonerated on Death Row in Alabama. Walter McMillan was released in 1993 after serving 5 years, Randall Padgett was released in 1997 after serving 5 years, James Bo Cochran was released in 1997 after serving 21 years, Gary Drinkard was released in 2001 after serving 6 years, and Wesley Quick was released in 2003 after serving 6 years.
Are there any opportunities for volunteering in my state?
The Alabama Prison Project is a prisoner advocacy organization that does mitigation on capital cases. It also provides resources for Death Row inmates and their families. (e-mail addvocat@bellsouth.net)
Alabama ARISE, a coalition of 140 religious, community and civic groups that work on poverty issues by promoting state policies to improve the lives of low-income people. As one of their action agenda issues for 2004, ARISE has pushed for a moratorium.
Alabama Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (e-mail hilesjones@aol.com)
Additional Resources
Alabama State Info at DPIC
Alabama State Info at Equal Justice USA
* Information updated annually. Last updated January 2006. For more information, go to the Death Penalty Information Center.
News
Poll Finds Concerns About Fairness of Alabama's Death Penalty
August 01, 2005
A large majority of Alabamians in a new poll support the death penalty, but 57...
New Resources from Alabama
March 26, 2005
Earlier this month EJI released a report, "Criminal Justice Reform in Alabama: A Report and...
Bring on the Bishops
March 20, 2005
U.S. Roman Catholic bishops are preparing to begin what they call a major campaign to...
US 'Whittling Away at Death Penalty'
March 03, 2005
From the BBC: Legal experts say that the US Supreme Court's decision to prevent youths...
Democracy Now Segment About The Death Penalty
March 02, 2005
Today you can see a segment of Democracy Now with Amy Goodman about the landmark...
Supreme Court Bars Death Penalty for Juvenile Killers
March 01, 2005
In a huge move, The Supreme Court forbid the execution of minors (under 17) at...
Study Finds Innocence Issue Leads to Lower Death Penalty Support
February 22, 2005
Makes sense to me. Three-quarters of Americans believe that an innocent person has been executed...
EJI Recent Events and Developments
February 20, 2005
I've been waiting for a website update for Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama and it...
Bush Calls for Death Penalty Lawyer Training
February 04, 2005
I realize this is a slow response to the State of the Union, (two days...
Court TV Runs 'The Exonerated'
January 23, 2005
Airing: 9 p.m. Thursday, Court TV "At the end of the play, we would sometimes...
The Death Penalty - A View from an European
December 19, 2004
As of November 2004 in Alabama, there have been 33 City Councils that have voted...
More of Alabama in the News
November 10, 2004
After reading this article I really have to ask myself what good would it do...
31 Town Councils in Alabama Support Moratorium
November 05, 2004
Some good news on this Friday evening. In Alabama, one more town council passed a...
EJI, Race and the Criminal Justice System
September 12, 2004
Since today's death penalty news seems to be quiet, I thought it would be a...
Alabama Execution
August 06, 2004
The New York Times: James Hubbard became the oldest U.S. inmate put to death in...
Scheduled Execution Thursday
August 03, 2004
The New York Times: A 74 year-old man is scheduled for executed in Alabama on...
