-California spends three times more money on its prisoners ($18,724/year) than it does on its students ($5,739/year).
-The U.S. has executed at least 365 people for offenses that they committed as juveniles.
-There are 81 juveniles currently on death row in the United States, 64% are people of color.
-Since 2000, only four countires have excuted juveniles. They are the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), Iran, Pakistan and the U.S. This year, the DRC established a moratorium on executions, Pakistan abolished the death penalty for juveniles and Iran announced that it is preparing to do the same. .
-At least 160 children (Age 18 and Under) have been sentenced to death in the U.S. since 1973.
Alternatives.
-If California replaced the death penalty with a sentence of Life Without Parole, the state would save more than $90 milllion a year. Over 2700 people have been given this sentence and only two have ever been released. Both of these indivduals were found to be innocent.
-This money could be spent on schools, drug prevention programs, job training centers, after shcool programs, roads, or day care facilites; measures which truly prevent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.
What Youth Can Do!.
-Contact Death Penalty Focus. We can work together!.
-Start a Death Penalty Focus chapter at your school. We will help get you speakers and materials!.
-Host an event on your campus! We will help you publicize your event.
-Set up an info table on campus every day there's an execution.
-Wear purple armbands every day there's an execution.
-Host a debate.
-Support efforts to pass a City Council resolution for a moratorium.
-Lobby national and state representatives.
-Attend national conferences on death penalty organizing.
-Network with other local campus groups for campus-wide days of action.
-Sign the petition!.
-Invite victims' groups to share their stories. Contact Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation.
What Teachers Can Do.
-Use the Death Penalty Information Center's curriculum for educators in your classroom! Learn more!.