New Yorkers for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (formerly New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that in 2008 expanded its mission after the effective abolition of capital punishment in New York. NYADP supports effective, rational, and humane approaches to the problem of violent crime in a post-death penalty abolition environment. NYADP collaborates with a wide variety of individuals and organizations (crime victims, members of law enforcement, family members of the incarcerated, mental health advocates, clergy, etc) to achieve these objectives.

In the tumult of public debate and competing interests, NYADP aspires to be a voice of practical reason and compassion, seeking common ground where none was visible, building coalitions that work to advance the collective good without sacrificing any individual’s human dignity or civil rights .We strongly believe that common ground and shared values represent the foundation for progress. People of good will must work together to build a safer society and to heal the damage caused by violence. While remaining rooted in its core belief that the death penalty is unacceptable on moral as well as practical grounds, NYADP recognizes the need develop strategies that work effectively to empower communities to prevent and reduce the incidence of violent crime and to assist crime victims and families of the incarcerated. In its mission-based activity, NYADP also recognizes the need to articulate guiding principles, since crime policy has often been overly reactive or tainted by partisan interests.

Thus, we resolve to hold ourselves responsible to the following principles: 

1. We believe that the death penalty is a violent and unacceptable response to crime that is harmful not only to the offender and the offender’s family, but also to society.
2. We pursue goals and strategies that foster a broad community response to violence, while avoiding issues that create division or that unfairly affect particular stakeholders.We support the use of sound empirical research to investigate nonviolent approaches to crime control and prevention.
3. We reject approaches that disadvantage or unfairly affect any group as defined by race, economic class, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, etc.
4. We believe that respectful dialogue is the best way to resolve differences and create consensus. NYADP will work to bridge differences on issues that have precluded progress in the past.