Death Row Exonerees Visit the Capitol to Oppose the Death Penalty

On February 10, members of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty, and Witness to Innocence, a national organization of exonerees, visited the Capitol to advocate for the abolition of Florida's death penalty and for fair treatment of those sentenced to death after a wrongful conviction.

While at the Capitol, the group attended a press conference with several legislators, including death penalty repeal bill sponsors, Senator Gary Farmer and Rep. Joe Geller. SB 938 and HB 6045 delete all provisions in Florida statutes that provide for the death penalty for capital felonies. Catholic Days at the Capitol participants advocated for passage of these measures earlier this month. 

The advocates in town this week also supported the following FCCB priorities: 

• SB 24 (Torres, Jr.) and HB 6523 (Eskamani) provide an appropriation to compensate Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin for being wrongfully incarcerated for nearly 15 years. Mr. Aguirre-Jarquin spent 10 years and 8 months on death row. New DNA, forensic, and testimonial evidence discovered after his conviction and death sentence powerfully show Mr. Aguirre-Jarquin's innocence.
• SB 28 (Gidson) and HB 6507 (Daniels) provide an appropriation to compensate Clifford Williams for being wrongfully incarcerated for 43 years. The state found that there was no credible evidence of Mr. Williams' guilt, and likewise, found verifiable and substantial evidence of his innocence. Mr. Williams spent four years on death row. 
• SB 346 (Bradley) and HB 259 (DuBose) remove the prohibition on receiving compensation for wrongful incarceration for those with prior felony convictions.

While in town, two of the exonerees, Ralph Wright, Jr. and Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin, met with FCCB staff to share their personal stories of what it was like to be on death row for crimes they did not commit. They talked about the importance of prayer and remaining mentally strong during such a hard and difficult time. It was touching and at times sad to listen to their stories and how they were treated throughout the legal process. The number of death row exonerees in Florida currently stands at 29, the highest of any state.