FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
CONTACT: Lois Seeligsohn
856‑854‑3182 (days and evenings) or Mr.
Lorry Post 609-884-7624
Murder Victim's Father
Urges Lawmakers: Scrap Death Penalty for Life without Parole
"Death sentences are substantially more costly than life sentences," said
Lorry Post, of
Post is New Jersey Coordinator of Murder Victims Families for
Reconciliation (MVFR), a national organization of 5,000 loved ones of murder
victims and those who have been executed. Post said he spoke for MVFR, and his
daughter, Lisa, who was murdered in 1989. Post said MVFR advocates programs to
help victims' families rebuild their lives, rather than seek
vengeance.
"Statistics demonstrate that capital punishment costs are at least double
those of life sentences," Post said. "Capital trials are longer, costlier and
more complex than non-capital trials. And, because opposition to the death
penalty is growing, it can take weeks to find a jury of people willing to impose
capital punishment." Post recommended that money saved by instituting life
without possibility of parole be divided between crime prevention and
rehabilitation programs and aid to victims of violent crime.
Death penalty proponents support reducing the number of appeals to hasten
the process and cut costs. But Post, who also is a founding member of New
Jerseyans for a Death Penalty Moratorium, contends that would significantly
increase the risk of executing innocent persons. To date, 114 innocent death row
inmates have been exonerated, many days or even hours from execution.
"Some discoveries of innocence are not made for years," Post said. "No
American wants to risk killing an innocent person. We must insure justice, while
we protect society."