Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

The Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (KCADP) is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the primary goal of ending the use of the death penalty in the state of Kentucky. It operates as a 501(c)(3) corporation. KCADP is composed of individuals and organizations dedicated to achieving its mission through advocacy, public education, and legislative reform.

History and Key Milestones

1. Establishment: KCADP was officially established in 1988 by Father Patrick Delahanty and his co-founder, as part of a broader movement against the growing trend of capital punishment in the late 1970s and 1980s[2].
2. Legislative Reforms: In 1990, KCADP played a pivotal role in amending Kentucky's death penalty law to exclude the execution of mentally disabled persons[2].
3. Kentucky Racial Justice Act: In 1998, Kentucky passed the Kentucky Racial Justice Act, which prohibited death sentences when race was a contributing factor in the case. This made Kentucky the first state to enact such legislation[2].
4. Execution Moratorium: By 2010, a court ruling placed an indefinite hold on all executions in Kentucky due to concerns over the constitutionality of lethal injection procedures and the mental stability of death row inmates[2].

Objectives and Activities

KCADP focuses on several core strategies to advance its mission:

• Public Education: It aims to inform the public about the issues surrounding capital punishment through various outreach programs.
• Advocacy: KCADP engages in advocacy efforts to influence policy changes at the state level.
• Coalition Building: The organization collaborates with diverse groups, including law enforcement officials, religious leaders, and family members of murder victims, to build support for its cause[5].
• Legislative Reform: KCADP supports and promotes legislation that advances its goal of abolishing the death penalty. For example, in 2022, it supported House Bill 269, which protected individuals with certain mental health conditions from being executed[2].

Partnerships and Affiliations

The ACLU of Kentucky is a founding member of KCADP and works closely with the organization to challenge the use of capital punishment through legal action and public education[3].

In summary, KCADP has been a key player in shaping Kentucky's approach to capital punishment, promoting a society that values human life and seeks alternatives to the death penalty.