Capital punishment contributes to the escalating atmosphere of violence in our society and undermines belief of the inherent worth and dignity of human life. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare if not practically nonexistent. The deep pain and very real anguish lived by families of victims cannot be fully understood by most of us. Survivors suffer firsthand this agony of losing a loved one to a terrible, horrific crime. Our churches and communities cannot do enough to bring comfort into the lives of these grieving families.
Justice demands that survivors receive the greatest care and compassion possible.
Over time we hope they will be able to resist the very natural, the understandable desire, to take the lives of those who have committed such terrible wrongs. The only alternative to a sentence of death in Florida for those convicted of a first degree capital felony murder, since 1994, is a life sentence without parole. To date, none have been paroled. In Florida, a simple 7-5 majority can yield a death sentence and a jury's recommendation of life in prison can be overridden by a judge in certain circumstances. The Conference supports a jury recommendation of life without parole as binding on sentencing.