Background: OADP works for the repeal of the death penalty by promoting research, education, and discussion relating to the death penalty. They have members across the state of Oregon, and have been working since 1984, when they were founded as “The Oregon Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.” Besides education efforts, they correspond with most of the men that are living on Oregon’s death row. Breaking the isolation of people on death row lessens the chance that individuals faced with the death penalty will choose to abandon their appeals. The only executions in Oregon in the last decade have been of two men who abandoned their appeals in 1996 and 1997.

In 2005: The Oregon legislature faced at least a dozen bills that would have expanded Oregon’s use of the death penalty (generally by expanding the definition of “Aggravated Murder”). This year, bills to expand the death penalty included several new categories of murder (based on the identity of the victims) and also methamphetamine-related legislation. OADP leaders and members attended one-on-one meetings with legislators, testified before legislative committees, wrote letters, and sponsored a one-day rally at the state capitol. Thanks to the efforts of OADP and other groups, none of the proposed expansions of the death penalty were successful.

OADP is also working on a web-based database to share information about who is on Oregon’s death row. In addition to informing the public about Oregon’s use of the death penalty, it will also be a resource for attorneys representing these men to share information about legal precedents and the status of cases. The website will go online in 2006.

You can learn more about OADP at  www.oadp.org [1]. 

This profile orginally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2005 Justice Matters.