Our mission is to educate the public about the death penalty and the issues surrounding it.

About Us.

Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona (DPAA) is a non-profit educational organization working to inform the public about the injustices surrounding the death penalty and the criminal punishment system. DPAA consists of volunteers from around the State of Arizona organized into the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of the state. 

Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona formed in July of 2012 when two predecessor organizations, the Coalition of Arizonans to Abolish the Death Penalty (CAADP) and the Arizona Death Penalty Forum (AzDPF) merged to form a single statewide organization.

The Coalition of Arizonans to Abolish the Death Penalty was started by members of Sanctity of Life, People Against Execution in the early 1990’s. CAADP was largely composed of volunteers from Tucson, Arizona.

The Arizona Death Penalty Forum began death penalty education work around 2002 in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. 

The Arizona Death Penalty Forum and the Coalition of Arizonans to Abolish the Death Penalty coordinated educational efforts for several years starting in 2007 when Arizona executed Richard Comer.  The need for a unified statewide organization became apparent, and the organizations merged to form Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona.

Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona has worked since 2012 to build a broad, diverse, and inclusive coalition of organizations committed to ending the death penalty in Arizona. 

Take Action.

Support the work.

Donations play a crucial role in our mission to abolish the death penalty and promote much-needed reforms in the criminal punishment system. Help us make a lasting impact by making a monthly or one-time contribution today.

Volunteer.

Volunteers are the heart of grassroots organizations, amplifying our message for abolition. Join our movement in Arizona and be a driving force in the solution. Engage in direct action events, vigils, and community activities statewide. Start making a difference as a volunteer today!

Share Abolition.

Follow us on social media to get the latest news on the death penalty and upcoming events. Click the link below to visit our Linktree, where you can access our social media platforms and sign up for our newsletter. Don't miss out on important updates!

  • Kevin Heade, President – Phoenix, AZ

  • David Spence – Flagstaff, AZ

  • Sam Kooistra, Secretary -Tucson, AZ

  • Jamaar Williams, Vice President – Phoenix, AZ

  • Antwan Trotter, Treasurer – Surprise, AZ

  • Alan Tavassoli – Awahtukee, AZ

Board of Directors.

Advisory Board.

  • Dale Baich

  • The Honorable Ron Barber

  • Pauline Urbano Hechler

  • Ray Krone

  • The Most Reverend Eduardo Nevares

  • Kathy Norgard

  • Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ

  • Dennis Seavers

  • Andy Silverman

  • Dan Peitzmeyer

In Memoriam

Ann Nichols

Dr. Ann Nichols, passed away on January 18, 2023. Dr. Nichols was one of the founding members of the Coalition of Arizonans to Abolish the Penalty Inc., the predecessor organization of DPAA. Since the mid-90s, Dr. Nichols has worked to abolish the death penalty in the state of Arizona. We are deeply grateful for Ann’s dedication to justice and service to our organization.

Resources.

Additional Information from local and national sources.

Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona acknowledges the traditional land on which we live, work, gather, and organize. We recognize that our organization operates on the ancestral territory of Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) Indigenous Communities.

As we engage in our mission to end the death penalty and raise awareness about the inequities of the criminal punishment system, we aim to ensure that our work respects and incorporates Indigenous perspectives and inclusion.

Indigenous land acknowledgement