73 episodes

Examining issues in the death penalty system. Brought to you by the Death Penalty Information Center, a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment.

Discussions With DPIC Death Penalty Information Center

    • News
    • 4.3 • 33 Ratings

Examining issues in the death penalty system. Brought to you by the Death Penalty Information Center, a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment.

    Shedding Light on Underreported Stories of Incarceration and Death Row — conversation with Keri Blakinger

    Shedding Light on Underreported Stories of Incarceration and Death Row — conversation with Keri Blakinger

    In this month’s episode of Discussions with DPIC, Managing Director Anne Holsinger speaks with Keri Blakinger, a journalist at the Los Angeles Times and former reporter for the Marshall Project—a nonprofit news organization focused on the U.S. criminal justice system. At the Marshall Project, Ms. Blakinger wrote stories about the human beings in the criminal justice system—a focus that is still a priority in her reporting with Los Angeles Times.Ms. Blakinger’s personal experience with prison has given her a unique perspective. In her book, Corrections in Ink: A Memoir (2022), she powerfully tells the story of her personal journey beginning as a young competitive figure skater with an eating disorder, through addiction and incarceration, and ultimately to her transformation into journalist and advocate. 

    • 32 min
    Life After Death Row with Anthony Graves

    Life After Death Row with Anthony Graves

    In this month’s episode of Discussions with DPIC, Managing Director Anne Holsinger speaks with former death-sentenced prisoner Anthony Graves. Exonerated from Texas’ death row in 2010, Mr. Graves has since become an advocate for criminal justice reform, creating the Anthony Graves Foundation, working with the ACLU and Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and testifying before the U.S. Senate on prison conditions. Mr. Graves has also authored an autobiography titled Infinite Hope: How Wrongful Conviction, Solitary Confinement and 12 Years on Death Row Failed to Kill My Soul.

    • 20 min
    Classifying Capital Punishment as Torture with John Bessler

    Classifying Capital Punishment as Torture with John Bessler

    In this month's episode of Discussions with DPIC, Managing Director Anne Holsinger speaks with John Bessler (pictured), of Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Professor Bessler is the author of several books on the death penalty, including his 2023 book The Death Penalty's Denial of Fundamental Human Rights: International Law, State Practice, and the Emerging Abolitionist Norm. In his most recent book, Professor Bessler argues that the death penalty should be classified as torture, which would prohibit its use under international law and treaties. The reality of capital punishment, he explains, is that it is "really just a series of credible death threats." The capital charge is a death threat, the death sentence is a more credible death threat, and the execution itself is a very imminent death threat. International law already prohibits mock executions as a "classic form of psychological torture," and Professor Bessler argues that the death penalty, with its repeated threats to execute, should be viewed the same way. "[T]here's really no way to eliminate the psychological torment that is associated with scheduling someone's death and then subjecting them to that continuous threat of death during the entire process."

    • 18 min
    Gender and the Death Penalty with Sandra Babcock

    Gender and the Death Penalty with Sandra Babcock

    In this month’s Discussions with DPIC, Managing Director Anne Holsinger speaks with Sandra Babcock (pictured), Clinical Professor at Cornell Law School, Faculty Director, and founder of the Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide. Ms. Babcock’s clinic currently represents death sentenced women in the United States, Malawi, and Tanzania and is focused on providing defense teams in retentionist countries with training and consultation in order to provide the best possible legal representation for individuals facing sentences of death. The Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide also produces research highlighting the intersection of gender and the death penalty, as well as international legal issues and capital punishment. Ms. Babcock explains how the Center’s research has uncovered widespread, yet overlooked issues that women and other gender minorities face in the criminal legal system.

    • 31 min
    How A British Charity Works to Assist US Capital Defenders

    How A British Charity Works to Assist US Capital Defenders

    In this month’s Discussions with DPIC, Managing Director Anne Holsinger speaks with Margot Ravenscroft, the Executive Director of AMICUS UK, a British charity that works to support the capital defense effort in the United States.  Ms. Ravenscroft describes how AMICUS was founded by a British woman who became a pen friend with a Louisiana death row prisoner and returned to the UK after his execution, determined to provide assistance for those still on death row.  Ms. Ravenscroft describes why the organization trains and supports British lawyers and law firms to work with US defense counsel, and how their efforts help ensure that every person on death row has adequate counsel and fair proceedings.

    • 24 min
    Evangelical Pastor Rich Nathan Discusses How a “Culture of Life” Informs His Opposition to the Death Penalty

    Evangelical Pastor Rich Nathan Discusses How a “Culture of Life” Informs His Opposition to the Death Penalty

    In the September 2023 episode of Discussions with DPIC, Anne Holsinger, Managing Director of DPIC, speaks with Pastor Rich Nathan, founding pastor of Vineyard Columbus, an evangelical Christian church based in Ohio. Mr. Nathan shares his pro-life perspective and explains how religious teachings inform his position on the death penalty.

    • 34 min

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
33 Ratings

33 Ratings

KaydeeKatt75 ,

Tech problems

I was so excited to find this as a justice reform advocate and someone who was victimized by abuse of power in the legal system. I try to stay educated and vocal for change, however, the episodes seem to cut off mid conversation and star over again and again. I can’t seem to get through an episode! I’m so disappointed!

Natasha_Nogoodnik ,

So disappointing!

Most of the episodes randomly cut out and start over. I was really excited when I found this, but it doesn’t work at all.

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