Reducing the Risk that Innocent Persons May be Executed
The Innocence Protection Act is a comprehensive package of criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing the risk that innocent persons may be executed. Most
importantly, the bill will: (1) Ensure that convicted offenders are afforded an opportunity to prove their innocence through DNA testing (2) Help States to provide competent legal services at every stage of a death penalty prosecution (3) Enable those who can prove their innocence to recover some measure of compensation for their unjust incarceration and (4) Provide the public with more reliable and detailed information regarding the administration of the nation's capital punishment laws.
On Wed. Jan. 23 2008, the Senate
Judiciary Committee convened a hearing concerning oversight of The
Justice For All Act, which provides defendants of the most serious of
crimes with grants for counsel and access to post-conviction DNA
testing. Leahy worked hard to include The Justice For All Act as
part of the Innocence Protection Act in 2004. Leahy is pictured
above with Kirk and Brenda Bloodsworth. Mr. Bloodsworth was the
first person in the United States to be exonerated by DNA evidence.
Click here to
read Leahy's statement from the hearing.
Below, is a list of press releases, statements and fact
sheets concerning the death penalty and DNA evidence that Sen.
Leahy has issued since he first introduced the Innocence Protection Act in 2000.
Los Angeles Times article:
Death Penalty Study Suggests Errors;
Executions: States with the highest rates of capital punishment sentences also
have the highest rates of reversals, research finds. - 2/11/02
Statement
Of Senator Patrick Leahy,
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee - Hearing On "Protecting The Innocent:
Proposals To Reform The Death Penalty"
-- 6/18/02
Reaction Of Senator Patrick
Leahy
To The U.S. Supreme Court's Decision On The Execution Of
Mentally Retarded Individuals -
June 20, 2002
The Senate Judiciary Committee Approved
(12 to 7) A Package Of Death Penalty Reforms, Including
Post-Conviction Access To DNA Tests and Competent Counsel Reforms -
7/18/02
Reaction Of Sen. Patrick Leahy
To Gov. George Ryan’s Decision To Commute The Sentences Of Illinois’ Death
Row Inmates - 1/11/03
Joint Statement
of
Senators Patrick Leahy, Gordon Smith and Susan Collins, and
Congressmen Bill Delahunt and Ray LaHood -
THE INNOCENCE PROTECTION ACT
2/4/03
