When: Friday, March 22nd, 2024
Where: Arizona State Capitol, Phoenix, AZ

Justice Reform Advocacy Day is designed to unite voters and policy advocates committed to ensuring justice for all Arizonans, with more than 15+ organizations representing various perspectives from both sides of the political spectrum. The stakeholders for this event include families, victims and survivors of crime, university students, and national and state grassroots advocacy organizations.

WhIn: March 21, 2024
Where: Mesa Community
College (Mesa)
In 1991, Ray Krone was wrongly convicted in Phoenix, Arizona, for murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault due to flawed bite-mark evidence. Despite his claims of innocence, he spent over a decade in prison, including time on death row. In 2002, DNA testing proved his innocence and implicated another individual.

Ray's case underscores the dangers of wrongful convictions, the impact of unreliable evidence, and the significance of scientific methods in the criminal justice system. He became the 100th death row inmate to be exonerated since 1976, shedding light on the issue of wrongful convictions and the risks associated with the death penalty in the United States.

When: February 28th, 2024
12:00 – 1:15 PM
Where: University of Arizona Law School

Barry Jones was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in 1995 in Arizona. He was released from Arizona's death row on June 15, 2023, after 29 years. Join Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona and the Program in Criminal Law and Policy at the University of Arizona for a conversation with Barry Jones and his attorney, Cary Sandman. Gain insights into the challenges, triumphs, and perseverance crucial in the pursuit of justice.

When: February 3, 2024
Where: The Duce, Phoenix, AZ
12PM - 4PM

We’re tabling at Dream.org Day of Empathy! Stop by our tabling to learn more about the death penalty in Arizona and volunteer opportunities and hear advocacy updates from Dream.Org legislative campaign.

When: Monday, January 15th, 2024, 10 AM - 4 PM Where: Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St. Phoenix

We are excited to join the 2024 MLK Celebration! Visit our information booth and discover ways to advocate against the death penalty in Arizona while honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The MLK Festival takes place from 10 AM to 4 PM at Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver Street, Phoenix.

"Capital punishment is against the best judgment of modern criminology and, above all, against the highest expression of love in the nature of God." - Martin Luther King Jr.

When: December 15th, 2023

Join us with our friends at Just Communities Arizona for music, food, and community as we write messages of hope during the holiday season to those who are incarcerated. We'll have dinner, hot cocoa and holiday treats, kids activities, DJ Buttafly, and more! Free and open to all.

October 10th, 2023

World Day Against the Death Penalty is a day to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and to raise awareness of the conditions and the circumstances that affect prisoners with death sentences.Join DPAA and Arizona Faith Network for an event inclusive of all faiths to unite against the death penalty in Arizona and support abolition for the world.

October 4th, 2023

Join DPAA and ASU National Lawyers Guild for an event about 1st Amendment litigation for defense counsel contacting victims, and the role defense counsel contact of victims can play in capital cases.Speakers include:

Jared Keenan, ACLU of AZ  Legal Director 

John Canby, Capital Resource Counsel, Maricopa County Public Defender 

Tim Again, Capital PCR Counsel, Office of Legal Advocate (Maricopa County)

August 6th, 2023

Are you a resident of Pima county? We’re joining @nojaildeaths and @acluofarizona for a panel discussion on August 6th at the Made in Tucson Event Space for a conversation about the proposal to build a new Pima County Jail.

The final Blue Ribbon Commission meeting is on August 10th, come together to learn about the proposal and how we can fight back.

July 26th, 2023

When: Wednesday, July 26th, 6 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: ONLINE

Join us for our first stay-at-home Summer movie night! We’ll be streaming Just Mercy with a live chat so you can connect and comment with other advocates from the comfort of your home.Just Mercy is based on the true story of Bryan Stevenson as he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation.

July 8th, 2023 1-4 PM

Location: Scottsdale Fashion Square

7014 E Camelback Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Stop by our favorite ethical cosmetics company and get informed about our abolition efforts in Arizona.

May 30th, 2023

Beers with Board Members!

Location: Tombstone Brewing North (Phoenix)3935 E Thomas Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85108

Meet DPAA’s newest board member, LD11 Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez, and other members of the board to discuss abolition, beer, and our goals for 2023 and beyond.

May 20th, 2023

Location: Grassrootz Bookstore1145 E Washington St #200, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Join us with our organizational partners to celebrate art, culture, and community!This community event is focused on creativity and inspiration; featuring live poetry performances, a muralist creating a beautiful piece live, and food vendors. Local businesses and community organizations will have information on how to get more involved in advocacy.

April 27th, 2023

Location: ASU Skysong

Stop by our exhibitor booth as we share our campaign to protect those with serious mental illnesses from capital punishment as National Mental Health Awareness Month kicks off. The theme for this years conference is: Beyond the Basics - Community Connections for Managing Mental Health in Arizona.  

We will provide educational and information to parents, caregivers, professionals, young adults, and community leaders with awareness and steps to protecting one of Arizona’s most vulnerable populations.

February 16th, 2023

8 AM - 1PM
The Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a discussion on SB1475, a bill introduced by Sen. Mendez and co-sponsored by Sen. Rosanna Gabaldon, Sen. Anna Hernandez, Sen. Priya Sundareshan, Sen. Raquel Teran, and Rep. Athena Salman that would abolish the death penalty in Arizona.

Join DPAA allies including League of Women Voters of AZ, ACLU of AZ, Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, AZ Catholic Conference, and other activists including Nathson Fields a death row exoneree who was wrongfully incarcerated for over 18 years, serving 12 years of those years death row to provide testimony to support SB1475.

January 27th, 2023

Mental Illness & The Death Penalty

Time: 11:30 AM MT Location: Zoom

Join the conversation as we discus the process, hurdles and success of implementing a serious mental illness capital punishment exemption policy as we kick off our 2023 SMI campaign in Arizona.Joining our panel discussion will be experts who have advocated in their state for SMI protection policies and won, as well as legal experts to explain how mental illness can impact the outcome of capital cases.Panelist include: Tialisha Lumpkin, Director of Outreach & Legislative AffairsKentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Ngozi Ndulue, Deputy DirectorDeath Penalty Information CenterHolly Gieszl, Attorney & Founding member of the Association for the Chronically Mentally Ill (ACMI)

December 2nd, 2022

Holiday Card Party

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Tucson - 525 N Bonita Ave, Tucson, AZ, United States, Arizona

Join us for a festive evening of food, fun, and music as we write messages of hope and encouragement to incarcerated people in Arizona.

FREE tamales, beans & rice

Hot cocoa and holiday baked goods

Music by DJ Buttafly

A Mercado featuring local artisans

Family friendly event, all are welcome!

November 16th, 2022

Time: 9:30 AM Location: Phoenix - Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza

Join Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona in partnership with BLM PHX Metro and Mass Liberation for a peaceful gathering to protest the execution of Murray Hooper.

Bring a sign or make your own with us. All materials provided.

November 15th, 2022

Candlelight Vigil

Remembering those who have been lost to act of violence

Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM PTLocation: Phoenix - State Capital

Join Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona for a candlelight vigil to remember those who have been lost to acts of violence.

Refreshments will be available. Candles will be provided.

Speakers from Black Lives Matter Metro Phoenix, Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty, Dream.org, Mass Liberation

September 21, 2022

Time: 9:00 AM PT/12 PM ETLocation: Zoom

Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona’s State Advocacy Director, Kat Jutras, will join with death penalty repeal organizers; Stacy Rector of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and Branden Cunningham of Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty, hosted by EJUSA Evangelical Network, to share a sense of the national death penalty movement and the nuances of how individual states fit into this work. Each leader will bring their experience, wisdom, and stories to this conversation and help you see how advocates can fit into the national, state, or local movement to repeal the death penalty.