R-9793
RESOLUTION NUMBER ~ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CALLING ON THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR TO
DECLARE A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS IN THE STATE UNTIL
A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE CURRENT DEATH PENALTY LAW
AND ITS APPLICATION IS COMPLETE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY RE-
SOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the United States is currently one of the only Western coun-
tries to still use a system of capital punishment; and
WHEREAS, the United States has been the object of criticism by the in-
ternational community, including the European Union and the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights, for this very fact; and
WHEREAS, recent advancements in DNA testing have proven death row
inmates innocent, but a study by the Department of Justice found that DNA
testing is routinely not used by prosecutors' offices; and
WHEREAS, another study by the Department of Justice found that the
death penalty unfairly discriminates against non-whites in several ways, from
the initial recommendations by prosecutors' offices, to plea bargaining, to the
actual sentencing to death; and
WHEREAS, polls have found that a substantial majority of Californians
support a moratorium on the death penalty within the state, until a thorough
review of its application has been made; and
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WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica has always attempted to protect the
rights of individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other characteristics, and
recognizes that the current flawed death penalty constitutes the most pro-
found threat to an individual's basic rights,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Monica hereby calls for
a moratorium on the death penalty in the State of California, until a thorough
review of its procedures and applications can be made and analyzed.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolu-
tion, and thenceforth thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
F: \atty\muni\laws\m j m\deathpenal tyreso. doc
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Adopted and approved this 13th day of August, 2002.
I, Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby
certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 9793 (CCS) was duly adopted at a
meeting of the Santa Monica City Council held on the 13th of August, 2002, by
the following vote:
Ayes: Council members:
O'Connor, Bloom, Genser, Mayor Pro Tem
McKeown, Mayor Feinstein
Noes: Council members:
Holbrook
Abstain: Council members:
None
Absent: Council members:
Katz
ATTEST~.
Maria Stewart, City Cle
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