We Did!!

In 2001 we sponsored the bill that the legislature passed and the governor signed abolishing the death penalty for persons with mental retardation in Missouri.  It was a landmark accomplishment.  Missouri became the 16th state to ban the procedure.  A year later the U.S. Supreme Court followed suit banning it throughout the land! 

News Release #1
News Release #2

News Release #1

Date: 6/21/2002

Contact Person: Jerry Ford, Executive Director

RE: U.S. Supreme Court Abolition of the Death Penalty for the Mentally Retarded

It was announced Thursday, June 20 that the U.S. Supreme Court abolished the death penalty for persons with mental retardation. “What a great day. The Supreme Court has brought our country into the new millennium. We take great pride in the role we played in this momentous decision,” proclaimed Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri Executive Director, Jerry Ford.

Missouri become the 16th state to abolish the death penalty in 2001. The Supreme Court was watching. Representatives Craig Hosmer, D., Springfield, and Bill Boucher, D., Kansas City filed our bill in the House and Senator John Schneider, D., Florissant in the Senate. Representative Ralph Monaco, D., Raytown and Senator David Klarich, R., Clayton guided it thru debate which culminated in bipartisan support and Governor Bob Holden signing it into law.

Once again, special recognition goes to Cole County Prosecutor Richard Callahan and Larry Weber and all the good hard working folks over at the Missouri Catholic Conference. “Without them, it wouldn’t have been done,” Ford stated.

When persons with mental retardation commit serious crimes, they should be punished. Persons with mental retardation do not comprehend the consequences of their actions. To inflict the ultimate penalty of death is and has been cruel and unjust in their cases.

To quote Dr. Barbara Whitman of St. Louis University, “ It is the measure of a civilized society that it affords the greatest protection to the rights and needs of those who are the most vulnerable.” 

“Today we take great pride in knowing the U.S. Supreme Court has measured up to that challenge and we are all the better for it,” Ford concluded.

News Release #2

July 2, 2002

Southeast Missourian Newspaper
301 Broadway
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Dear Editor:

In your Sunday, June 30 editorial, you correctly characterized the Supreme Court ban on the death penalty for persons with mental retardation. While states who haven’t passed legislation may struggle a bit with definitions, etc. Missouri’s law is a model that will pass scrutiny.

Missouri’s statute reads: “ As used in this section, the terms “mental retardation” or “mentally retarded” refer to a condition involving substantial limitations in general functioning characterized by significantly sub-average intellectual functioning with continual extensive related deficits and limitations in two or more adaptive behaviors such as communication, self-care, home living, social skills, community use, self-direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure and work, which conditions are manifested and documented before eighteen years of age.” This is the national standard. It generally equates to an IQ of under 70. It has held up over the years.

In negotiations with lawmakers, prosecutors and judges who might mistakenly think that an individual could fake the condition of mental retardation, we took an additional step. We added: “if the trier finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is mentally retarded;” attesting to the medical, educational and vocational records that exist today making it virtually impossible to feign mental retardation. 

For more information visit our website at www.rcomo.org and click on mental retardation.

Sincerely,

Jerry Ford, Executive Director
Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri