NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty executive director Noel Nickle

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the last time the state North Carolina put a person to death in punishment for a crime. And despite the many deep flaws in the death penalty – huge costs, systemic racism, convictions of innocent people — and fact that this moratorium has not led to any increase in violent crime – indeed the rates are down significantly – death penalty supporters are trying to restart executions.

Meanwhile, as executions remain on hold, more than a 120 people sit on the state’s death row at great expense and prosecutors in some counties are looking to add to that total. Recently, in order to get a better understanding of this confusing situation and whether there’s a path forward in which North Carolina can join the national and global abolition trend, NC Newsline sat down with the executive director of the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Noel Nickle.

Click here to listen to the full interview with North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty executive director Noel Nickle.