Sarah Ford | February 4, 2014

How Much is it Worth to Keep Executions Moving Forward?

Source: Amnesty International USA

By Andrea Hall, Mid Atlantic Regional Death Penalty Abolition CoordinatorHow Much is it Worth to Keep Executions Moving Forward?

How much is it worth to keep executions moving forward? What is the price of our machinery of death? In addition to the expense that is above and beyond keeping a prisoner jailed for life, there are the intangibles – the toll on the families of both the victims and the condemned, as well as on the prison staff, and the cost of perpetuating the cycle of violence in our society.

In the case of Edgar Arias Tamayo, executed tonight in Texas, the price may be much higher. We may very well have put our relationships with foreign countries, as well as the safety of Americans living and traveling overseas, at risk.

In a blatant affront to the United States’ obligations under international law, the state of Texas executed a Mexican national who was denied his consular rights at the time of his arrest, depriving his home country of the opportunity to assist in the defense of his case. Because the trial court denied funding for psychological testing, the jury did not hear significant evidence of Tamayo’s intellectual disabilities, information that could well have tipped the scales towards life imprisonment.

>> Continue Reading

 

Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox

Explore More Articles

Interested in maximizing support through payroll deduction programs? Find out how your organization can benefit from nurturing payroll giving donors here.

Nurturing Payroll Giving Donors: 5 Tips to Deepen Engagement

August 4, 2025

Payroll giving donors are some of the most consistent and committed supporters nonprofits have, but they’re often overlooked in day-to-day fundraising strategies. These donors contribute…

Read Article
Company values are the foundation of your everyday work environment. Ensure you attract best-fit talent by incorporating your values into the hiring process.

How to Align Your Company’s Values with Your Hiring Process

August 1, 2025

Hiring is about more than filling roles—it’s about shaping the future of your company. Every new team member contributes to the culture you’re building, and…

Read Article

Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July 18, 2025

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by minority communities. It’s an…

Read Article

Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox

Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.

newsletter-mock