Executive order released from Trump administration

On 21 January 2025, an Executive Order was released titled “Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety.”

The Order asserts that capital punishment is an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens.  

This Order violates the universal right to life and is incompatible with human rights generally as outlined by the United Nations. Further, evidence strongly suggests that the death penalty has little to no effect on deterring or reduce crime.

The Julian Wagner Memorial Fund opposes the death penalty in all cases.