Urge your senator to end Alabama’s outdated death penalty practices.

SB 182, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, would be an important step toward reforming Alabama’s death penalty system to align with the rest of the United States. Right now, Alabama allows a jury to sentence someone convicted of capital murder to death if 10 of 12 jurors agree. This bill would require a unanimous jury sentencing vote to impose the death penalty.

SB 182 will be up for consideration on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Your senator serves on that committee and needs to hear from you about this legislation. Email your senator today and say you support SB 182.

Alabama consistently has one of the nation’s highest per capita execution rates. Our state has an even higher error rate: For every eight people executed, one has been exonerated. Additionally, Alabama is the only state to continue imposing the death penalty without requiring a unanimous jury vote. Of the people now on Alabama’s death row, 80% did not receive unanimous jury verdicts for death, according to the Equal Justice Initiative.

We are excited about this opportunity for meaningful reform. Your senator needs to hear from you that they should support this bill. Please contact your senator TODAY and urge them to pass SB 182!