Death Penalty

Resolved, that the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law calls for a moratorium on capital punishment at least until death penalty jurisdictions implement policies and procedures that: A) Ensure that death penalty cases are administered fairly and impartially in accordance with basic due process; and B) Prevent the execution of mentally disabled persons and people who were under the age of 18 at the time of their offenses.

This resolution is consistent with the results of a survey of the AAPL membership and was formally adopted by the AAPL Executive Council May 6, 2001.

Amicus Briefs

Penry v. Johnson, brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, January 11, 2001

Sell v. U.S., brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, January 22, 2003

Indiana v. Edwards, brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, February 11, 2008