The work of NCCADP is built upon our core values of racial justice, restorative justice and centering the voices of people most proximate to the death penalty. These values require that we also engage in the larger movement for social justice and broad criminal legal reform, including ending mass incarceration. From working to remove all Confederate iconography to eliminating money bail, we oppose all forms of the carceral state and pledge to integrate this into our work as death penalty abolitionists.
Racial Justice
We are committed to dismantling white supremacy culture. We know the death penalty is a modern day iteration of racial terror and lynching, and systemic racism continues to fuel the death penalty. Our commitment to racial justice extends to prioritizing equity, representation, and an analysis of power in all that we do. From the facilitation of meetings to the make-up of our board, we strive to be anti-racist in all aspects of our organization, while acknowledging we are always learning how to improve.
Restorative Justiceย
Our work is rooted in the principles of restorative justice, which seeks to answer the questions: Who has been harmed? What do they need? Who is responsible for addressing those harms and needs? And how can we make sure the harm does not happen again? Restorative justice stands in contrast to retributive justice that focuses on punishment and revenge and condones executing people. NCCADP values healing, and we envision a justice system that addresses the root causes of violence and trauma rather than perpetuating them.
Centering Voices of People Most Impacted
We believe amplifying the stories of people with lived experience with the death penalty transforms the false narrative that the death penalty is necessary. In all that we do, we strive to include and elevate the voices of people who have suffered the loss of a loved one to murder and people who are living on or exonerated from NCโs death row and their families. We not only value their stories and lived experience, but we believe their leadership and perspectives are key to the success of our movement.