USCCB - (SDWP) - The Innocence Protection Act

require that every person accused of a capital crime has access to a competent and experienced attorney, by setting up a grant program to help States design specific standards for attorneys who choose to take on capital cases;
allow condemned prisoners to have DNA evidence tested when such evidence is available and has a reasonable probability of proving the convicted prisoner innocent; and
protect death row inmates who have been granted Supreme Court review from being executed while they are waiting for their review.

The IPA was introduced in March 2001 as S. 486 in the Senate, and as H.R. 912 in the House of Representatives. It is currently co-sponsored by 241 members of the House, 176 Democrats and 65 Republicans; and 30 co-sponsors in the Senate, 25 Democrats and 5 Republicans.

On July 18, 2002, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to recommend the IPA to the full Senate. The Senate will begin debate on the bill in September when Congress is back in session. In the House of Representatives, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime held a Hearing on the IPA on June 18, 2002.

USCCB Position
Although it will not end the use of capital punishment, the U.S. Bishops have supported the IPA because it will help protect innocent people from being executed. With the reality that a majority of Americans still support the use of capital punishment, nothing can illustrate the need for such protection more than the fact that there have been 101 people that are known to have been sentenced to death and then subsequently found innocent.

Domestic staff will continue to advocate for the passage of the IPA because focusing attention and generating debate on the bill aids our efforts to move towards an end to capital punishment. At this time, our legislative efforts are focused on the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), to schedule a Committee vote on the IPA as soon as possible. Staff is also encouraging all of the Subcommittee members who are co-sponsors of the IPA to ask the Chairman to schedule a vote soon after the August recess.

Next Steps

Contact Senate offices to enlist support for the IPA when the bill comes to the Senate floor.
Solicit support from all of the members of the House Judiciary Committee, who are co-sponsors of the legislation, to schedule a vote on the IPA soon after the August recess.
Encourage the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Chairman Sensenbrenner (R-WI) to schedule a vote on the IPA soon after the August recess.

Other Resources
www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/criminal/savindex.shtml, click on Stand Against Violence Policy Agenda, also see the web site of the Justice Project's Campaign for Criminal Justice Reform (www.CJReform.org)

For More Information
Andy Rivas 202.541.3190; (fax) 202.541.3339; arivas@usccb.org or Frank McNierney, Consultant on the Death Penalty; ellen.frank@verizon.net.

Email us at JPHDmail@usccb.org