Active cases
Upcoming Executions
Corey Johnson
Executed January 14, 2021
Rest in Peace
Dustin Higgs
Executed January 16, 2021
Rest in Peace
Blaine Milam
January 21, 2021
Texas
Voice your concerns to the attorney general
Call the attorney general's office:
202-353-1555
I urge you to stop the executions of Dustin Higgs. He did not take any lives, taking his life would be arbitrary and unjust. Today, on MLK's birthday, stand up for the peaceful and equal world MLK dreamed of, by stopping yet another cruel execution.
Tweet at the department of justice:
@TheJusticeDept Please stop the execution of #DustinHiggs. He did not take any lives, his life should not be taken. Continuing this execution spree on MLK's birthday would leave a terrible stain on this administration's legacy. Stand up for justice and spare Dustin's life today.
SAMPLE WEBSITE CONTACT FORM MESSAGE:
(select "Message to the Attorney General" from the topic menu)
The death row exonerees of Witness to Innocence are living proof that the death penalty is fraught with errors. There is little rhyme or reason to who receives a death sentence. Among them are people unable to afford adequate representation, victims of racism and bias, people with mental illness or intellectual disability, and even people who were wrongfully convicted like the members of Witness to Innocence.
I urge you to stop the execution of Dustin Higgs. Dustin did not kill anyone. The killer in his case is serving a life sentence. It is arbitrary and random to execute Dustin, who did not take a life, while we give lesser sentences to thousands who have.
The constitution protects against cruel and unusual punishment. The sudden surge of federal executions is quite unusual and is against the national trend. Only 16 states have held executions in the last decade. In 2020, executions were the lowest in 37 years, but for the first time, the federal government executed more people than all of the states combined. The executions this week have been the first lame-duck federal executions in over 100 years, and will total the most federal executions during a presidential transition ever in US history. I urge you to stop all executions.
To find a complete list of upcoming executions, go to
On Death Row With Strong
Innocence Claims
Pervis Payne
Pervis has been on death row in Tennessee for 33 years. Despite his strong innocence claims, intellectual disability, and evidence of racial stereotyping used at trial, he was set to be executed on December 3rd. Thankfully, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted him a temporary reprieve of execution until April 9, 2021 due to “challenges and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.” Although this is a temporary victory, the fight is not over until Payne's sentence is commuted. The Shelby County Criminal Court ordered DNA testing for the evidence in Payne's case on September 16, 2020. The evidence of another person's DNA on critical evidence from the crime scene could prove what Pervis has been saying all these years, that he is innocent.
Sign the Petition to Support Pervis Payne
Rodney Reed
Rodney Reed, who maintains his innocence, has been on death row for more than 22 years for the murder of Stacey Stites in Bastrop, Texas. Since his trial, substantial evidence exonerating Rodney and implicating Stacey’s then-fiancé Jimmy Fennell, a former local police officer, has come to light. Rodney was granted an indefinite stay of execution, just five days before his scheduled execution date of November 20, 2019, and is now awaiting a new hearing. Rodney now has another chance to prove his innocence, but he’s not free yet.
You can help support Rodney’s fight for justice by sharing this article and adding your name to this petition.
Julius Jones
Julius Jones is on death row in Oklahoma, despite maintaining his innocence and compelling evidence that he was wrongfully convicted.
In a case riddled with odious racial discrimination — including a police officer’s use of a racial slur during Mr. Jones’ arrest and the State’s removal of all prospective black jurors except one —evidence shows that a juror used the n-word before jury deliberations at the sentencing phase.
Find out more about the case and how to take action at the Justice for Julius site.
James Dailey
Since his conviction in 1987, James Dailey has maintained his innocence. There is no eyewitness, physical, or forensic evidence to convict him. Dailey was sentenced to death solely based on the testimony of Paul Skalnik, a known jailhouse informant. Skalnik served as a witness in 35 cases, sent dozens of people to prison, and three to death row.
James Dailey's codefendant, Jack Pearcy, signed a declaration in December of 2019 declaring that he alone had committed the murder. “James Dailey had nothing to do with the murder of Shelly Boggio,” the declaration said. “I committed the crime alone. James Dailey was back at the house when I drove Shelly Boggio to the place where I ultimately killed her.” However, when it came time to testify in March of 2019 Pearcy refused.
The fight for James Dailey's freedom continues. Learn more about his case here.