Get Involved!

Connect to moratorium efforts happening in your state.

Click on your state to the right or scroll down for:

  • Legislation status
  • Contacting your state's moratorium campaign
  • Current actions
  • and more!

    For a quick view of moratorium legislation, see our 2008 Legislative Update in .pdf.

State by State

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* * * a l a b a m a * * *
General Information
 Alabama is one of only three states where a judge can override a jury's decision not to impose the death penalty. Over 40 local governments have called for a moratorium on executions, many of them small towns. Moratorium legislation introduced by Senator Hank Sanders passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Which groups in Alabama have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Alabama portion of the National Tally, then help get other groups on board!

Articles and EJUSA updates:

Contact State & Local Groups

Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty
Esther Brown
PO Box 1362
Lanett, AL 36863
334-499-0003
www.phadp.org

Project Hope is run by death row inmates and their allies on the outside. Coordinator Esther Brown has tirelessly traversed the state seeking moratorium resolutions from local governments, with great success!
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2008
House: HB468
 Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Rep. Merika Coleman

Introduced 2/14/08
Senate: SB24
 Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders

Introduced 2/5/08
2007
House: HB189
 Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Rep. Merika Coleman

died at end of session 6/7/07

Introduced 3/6/07

Senate: SB125
 Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders

died at end of session 6/7/07

Introduced 3/6/07

2006
House: HB432
Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Rep. Merika Coleman

Died with end of session, 5/17/06.

Heard in open committee 3/8/06.
Senate: SB29
 Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders

Indefinitely postponed, died with end of session 5/17/06.

Passed judiciary committee by a 6-3 vote 3/8/06.

2005
Senate: SB371
 Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders

Died with the end of session, 5/16/05.

Passed Judiciary Committee by vote of 7-4 4/27/05.

2004
 Senate: SB18
Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders

Indefinitely postponed in Senate 4/14/04

Passed Judiciary Committee;

Senate: SB92
"Juveniles, moratorium on death penalty, death sentence commuted for persons who were juveniles at time of commission of capital offence." Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders Died in Senate Judiciary Committee with end of session
2003
 Senate: SB308
Three year moratorium on executions and procedural review. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders Died in Senate Judiciary Committee with end of session
2002
 Senate: SB186 Establishes moratorium not to exceed 3 years. Senator Hank Sanders Died in Senate Judiciary Committee with end of session
2001
 Senate: SB14 Provides for a three year moratorium on the death penalty; provides for the implementation of certain procedures for imposing the death penalty. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. Senator Hank Sanders

Died with end of session September 19, 2001

Approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee

Action Alert!

Contact Project Hope (above) for more information on getting involved in the Alabama moratorium movement! Or get your local government to pass a moratorium resolution. See Equal Justice USA's organizing packet for a step by step guide.
  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * a r k a n s a s * * *
General Information
 Which groups in Arkansas have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Arkansas portion of the National Tally!

Contact State & Local Groups

Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
David Rickard
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2008
No legislative session.
2007
No moratorium legislation this year.
2006
No legislative session.
2005
No moratorium legislation this year.
2004
No legislative session.
2003
 House: HB2226
Moratorium on executions and study commission. Bill text at Arkansas Legislature. Rep. Jim Lendall Died in Judiciary Committee 04/18/03
2002
No legislative session.
2001
 Senate: SB915 Provides for a moratorium when "DNA is an issue." Bill text at Arkansas Legislature. Senator Bill Walker Died in Senate Committee on Technology and Legislative Affairs with end of session

Action Alert!

Contact the Coalition to help win a moratorium on executions.
  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * a r i z o n a * * *
General Information
 The Attorney General's Capital Case Commission released its Interim Report in August 2001. The commission was set up to examine the fairness of Arizona's death penalty.

Articles from Moratorium News!:

Which groups in Arizona have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Arizona portion of the National Tally!

Contact State & Local Groups

 Coalition of Arizonans Against the Death Penalty
www.caadp.org		 The coalition scored a big victory in 2001 when they successfully passed a bill to ban the execution of the mentally retarded. In 2000, they concentrated on collecting moratorium resolutions from state and local groups, including the Tuscan City Council.
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2008
No moratorium legislation yet this year.
2007
No moratorium legislation this year.
2006
No moratorium legislation this year.
2005
No moratorium legislation this year.
2004
No moratorium legislation this year.
2003
No moratorium legislation this year.
2002
No moratorium legislation this year.
2001
No moratorium legislation this year.

Action Alert!

Contact the Coalition to get involved in state efforts!
  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * c a l i f o r n i a * * *
General Information

California launched a statewide moratorium campaign over a year ago (see contact info below). Adopting the Moratorium Now! strategy, the coalition is targeting local governments and organizations across the state to pass moratorium resolutions. Santa Clara County, West Hollywood, and Menlo Park are among those municipalities to join the list! In May 2002, California launched its first annual moratorium days, delivering 90,000 petition signatures to Gov. Davis in Sacramento and rallying for a moratorium resolution in the city council in Los Angeles.

Articles from Moratorium News! and EJUSA updates:

Which groups in California have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the California portion of the National Tally!
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2007-2008

No moratorium legislation introduced yet this session.

2005-2006
 Assembly: AB 2266 Moratorium on executions during the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice. Bill text at the California Legislature Assemblyman Paul Koretz

Died in Appropriations committee 5/10/06.

Passed Committee on Public Safety 4-2, 4/25/06.

Assembly: AB 1121

Moratorium on executions during the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice or until January 1, 2009.  Bill text at the California Legislature Assemblyman Paul Koretz

Died in Appropriations committee 1/19/06.

Passed Committee on Public Safety 4-2, 1/9/06.

2003-2004
No moratorium legislation this session.
2001-2003
No moratorium legislation this session.

Contact State & Local Groups

Californians for a Moratorium on Executions (CME)
c/o Death Penalty Focus
Stefanie Faucher
415-243-0143
www.californiamoratorium.org

 CME was launched over a year ago to win a moratorium in California. Coordinated by Death Penalty Focus, the coalition is made up of over 30 organizations with working groups in the southern and northern parts of the state.

Action Alert!

Contact CME to find out which other city council resolutions are in the pipeline. Maybe yours?
  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * c o l o r a d o * * *
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2008
No moratorium legislation yet this year.
2007
No moratorium legislation this year.
2006
No moratorium legislation this year.
2005
No moratorium legislation this year.
2004
No moratorium legislation this year.
2003
No moratorium legislation this year.
2002
No moratorium legislation this year.
2001
No moratorium legislation this year.

Contact State & Local Groups

Coloradans Against the Death Penalty
Denise Madden-Darnell (info@coadp.org)
303-310-4442
www.coadp.org

 CADP is a coalition of concerned citizens, religious leaders, political leaders, criminal defense lawyers, and relatives of murder victims that formed in 1997. Subchapters have formed or are forming in a number of cities around the state.

Action Alert!

Contact CADP and get involved in forming or joining a chapter in your area.
More Info.
 Which groups in Colorado have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Colorado portion of the National Tally!
  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * c o n n e c t i c u t * * *
General Information

In 2001, activists successfully lobbied for the passage of a number of changes to Connecticut's death penalty law. The bill that passed (See SB413 below) was a mixed bag. On the plus side, it prohibits the execution of the mentally retarded, and set up a study of the death penalty in Connecticut, and eliminates one aggravating factor. It unfortunately also adds a new aggravating factor: the murder of a law enforcement officer.

The study mandated by the bill was released in late 2002. The study recommended many significant changes to the law, but did not recommend moratorium or abolition.

To see which groups in Connecticut have endorsed a moratorium on executions, check out the Connecticut portion of the National Tally!

Articles from Moratorium News! and EJUSA updates:

Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2008
No moratorium legislation yet this year.
2007
 House: HB5333

Death penalty repeal. Bill text at the Connecticut Legislature.

(organizers are now working on a repeal campaign)

 Rep Bill Dyson

failed to be added as an amendment to omnibus crime bill on House floor 89-49 2/23/08

Introduced 1/11/2007

2006
No moratorium legislation this year.
2005
 House: HB6012

Death penalty repeal. Bill text at the Connecticut Legislature.

(organizers are now working on a repeal campaign)

 Judiciary Committee

failed on House floor 60-89 3/30/05.

Passed Joint Judiciary Committee 24-15 3/9//05.

Hearing in Joint Jud. Committee 1/31/05
2004
No moratorium legislation this year.
2003
No moratorium legislation this year.
2002
No moratorium legislation this year. Study commission underway.
2001
 Senate: SB413 Moratorium on executions with death penalty study on the use of the death penalty. Bill text at the Connecticut Legislature (click on "Text Search" and enter the Bill #). Senator Mary Ann Handley Study passed without moratorium component
House: HB7024 Prevents the execution of the mentally retarded and calls for a moratorium on executions. Bill text at Connecticut Legislature. Rep. Michael P Lawlor Died with close vote of 71-74

Contact State & Local Groups

Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty
Bob Nave (naverobert@yahoo.com)
203-757-3722
www.cnadp.org

 CNADP organizes statewide lobbying efforts for abolition as well as outreach. Meetings are on a monthly basis.

Action Alert!

Contact CNADP to get involved.

  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * d e l a w a r e * * *
Legislation
 Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2007-2008
No moratorium legislation yet this session.
2005-2006
 House: HJR13 Moratorium on executions until after an independent, non-partisan Commission on the Death Penalty to study all aspects of the death penalty as currently administered in Delaware. Bill text at the Delaware Legislature Representative Melanie George Marshall

Stricken 4/4/06.

Introduced in House Corrections Committee 6/23/05. 

2003-2004
No moratorium legislation this session.
2001-2002
No moratorium legislation this session.

Contact State & Local Groups

Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty
Sally Milbury-Steen
pinterris@aol.com
302-656-2721

Action Alert!

Contact Sally to get involved in Delaware's struggle for a moratorium on executions!
More Info.
 Which groups in Delaware have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Delaware portion of the National Tally!
  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * f l o r i d a * * *
News &
Information
 Articles from Moratorium News! and EJUSA updates:

For other news stories about the death penalty in Florida, visit FADP's Death Penalty in the News site

Which groups in Florida have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Florida portion of the National Tally!
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2008
No moratorium legislation yet this year.
2007
No moratorium legislation this year.
2006
No moratorium legislation this year.
2005
No moratorium legislation this year.
2004
No moratorium legislation this year.
2003
No moratorium legislation this year.
2002
No moratorium legislation this year.
2001
No moratorium legislation this year.

Contact State
& Local Groups

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Mark Elliott (mark@fadp.org)
(727) 215-9646
www.fadp.org

Action Alert!

Contact FADP to get involved in your area!
  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * g e o r g i a * * *
General Information

In 2002, Georgia activists launched the state's first major moratorium campaign, and on March 25, 2003, the legislature introduced its first-ever moratorium legislation. Meanwhile, the state executed Larry Moon, a likely innocent man, that very day.

Which groups in Georgia have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Georgia portion of the National Tally!

Print out an excellent Georgia fact sheet (print to 11"x17" and fold in half) or handbill (half of an 8.5"x11", folded down like a greeting card) that you can pass out or table with, by the Georgia Moratorium Campaign. Printing instructions.

Articles from Moratorium News! and EJUSA updates:

Action Alert!

Contact your legislators in support of the moratorium/study!

To find out what district you are in, call the Georgia Secretary of States office at (404) 656-2881 or enter your zip code at Project Vote Smart. For your legislators' contact information, visit the Georgia Legislature. Or, download a set of preprinted postcards with instructions from the Georgia Moratorium Campaign.
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2007-2008
 Senate: SR364 Creates Georgia Capital Punishment Study Commission. Bill text at Georgia Legislature. Senator Vincent Fort

Introduced 2/27/07
Senate: SB255 Moratorium until December 31, 2008. Bill text at Georgia Legislature. Senator Vincent Fort

Introduced 2/27/07
2005-2006
 Senate: SR1030 Creates a study commission and expresses the sense of the Senate that there be no executions during the commission. Bill text at Georgia Legislature. Senator Vincent Fort

Failed on Senate floor 17-33, 3/13/06

Reported favorably by Rules Committee, 3/9/06

Reported favorably by Judiciary Committee 5-4, 3/8/06
Senate: SB600 Provides for a 2 year moratorium. Bill text at Georgia Legislature. Senator Vincent Fort

Died with end of session 3/30/06

Referred to Committee 2/28/2006
House: HR301 Creates a study commission and expresses the sense of the House that there be no executions during the commission. Bill text at Georgia Legislature. Rep. Pam Stephenson

Died with end of session 3/30/06

Referred to Committee 2/24/2005
Senate: SR184 Creates a study commission and expresses the sense of the Senate that there be no executions during the commission. Bill text at Georgia Legislature. Senator Sam Zamarripa

Failed on Senate floor 15-23, with 11 "no votes," 3/24/05

Reported favorably by committee 3/17/05

2003-2004
 House: HR546 Moratorium on executions and study commission through December 31, 2003. Bill text at Georgia Legislature. Rep. Pam Stephenson House withdrawn, recommitted.
2001-2002
No moratorium legislation this year. A moratorium resolution was almost introduced days before the session ended, but as a result of a communication glitch, the resolution ended up calling for a study without a moratorium.

Contact State & Local Groups

Georgia Moratorium Committee - www.georgiamoratorium.org
c/o Amnesty International USA Southern Regional Office
Laura Moye - lmoye@aiusa.org
131 Ponce de Leon Ave. #220
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-876-5661 x12

 Amnesty International is coordinating and underwriting this coalition in its first two years. For it to continue and succeed, the coalition will need your help!
Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
www.geocities.com/gfadp		 GFADP is a participating member of GMC, and will be a major player in the state's moratorium campaign!

  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * idaho * * *
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2008
No moratorium legislation yet this year.
2007
No moratorium legislation this year.
2006
No moratorium legislation this year.
2005
No moratorium legislation this year.
2004
No moratorium legislation this year.
2003
 House: HB122 Two-year Moratorium on executions and study commission. Bill text at Idaho Legislature. Rep. Bieter Introduced to the House Judiciary Committee.  Died at end of session.
2002
No moratorium legislation this year.
2001
No moratorium legislation this year.

  • Additional information and corrections are welcome! Send updates to: sarahc@quixote.org or call Sarah at 301-699-0042
  • To search for non-moratorium death penalty legislation, see the Justice Project's excellent legislative search engine.
  • For additional statistics about the death penalty in your state, including the makeup of death row, execution methods, executions per year, and more, see the Death Penalty Information Center's state page.

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* * * i l l i n o i s * * *
General Information

In January 2000, after the 13th innocent man was released from Illinois' death row, Republican Governor George Ryan declared the country's first state moratorium and vowed no one else in the state would be executed until he could be sure no innocent person would ever "meet that fate." He set up a study commission to examine the state's system and make recommendations. That commission released its report in April 2002, calling for 85 reforms of the death penalty, stating that there was no way to 100% prevent errors in the death penalty, and a majority of the commission voting for abolition of the death penalty.

In January 2003, Governor Ryan commuted every death sentence in the state, clearing death row as he left office. Later that year, the legislature passed some significant reforms, but many of the committee's recommendations have not yet been implemented.

Under the current governor, the moratorium has remained in place. Meanwhile, an abolition bill passed out of committee with a vote of 8-4 in 2003!
Which groups in Illinois have endorsed a moratorium on executions? Check out the Illinois portion of the National Tally!
Articles from Moratorium News! and EJUSA updates:
Legislation
Bill # Details Sponsor Status
2007-2008
No moratorium legislation yet this session.  There is currently a governor-ordered moratorium in effect.
2005-2006
No moratorium legislation this session.  There is currently a governor-ordered moratorium in effect.
2003-2004
House: HB 2