March 25, 20201

IAHR welcomes the news that the State of Virginia has abolished the death penalty. Virginia is the first southern state to do so. The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment because it discriminates against the poor and people of color. It is cruel and unusual punishment because mistakes and prosecutorial misconduct often mar death penalty decisions. The next step is to ban life sentences without the possibility of parole. It is time for all of us to accept that people can change. https://www.governor.virginia.gov/.../headline-894006-en...