Piece Description

Part One: COUNTDOWN: Sixteen men and two women currently on death row in the U. S., are counting their last days. These eighteen people are scheduled to be executed between now and December 1st this year. But thanks in large part to advances in DNA technology, 145 death row inmates have been exonerated in the last few years, some within hours of their scheduled executions. This has resurrected much discussion on several issues surrounding the use of the death penalty in the 38 States that execute. We talk about these issues with the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen Prejean. OPTIONAL CUTAWAY CUE: “That’s 1-8-7-7 M-A-R-Y-K-N-O-L-L" at 14:00. Part Two: BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT: Since 1976, after the Supreme Court freed States to reinstate the Death Penalty, 924 persons have been executed. But the many recent exonerations point to the unacceptable possibility that some of those 924 may not have been guilty of the crimes they were convicted of. Internationally known attorney, author and co-founder of The Innocence Project, Barry Scheck has championed the Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act. The bill would allow access to DNA testing for inmates in Death Penalty cases but is currently stalled in the Senate. Kathy Golden speaks with Barry Scheck. End Cue: “And please be sure to join us next time for more Voices of Our World.” At 28:00. Can be broadcast at 14:00 or 28:00 minutes. Format fits well into either time slot.