Death penalty film shows both sides of issue
Students heard arguments both for and against the death penalty in a screening of the documentary “No Tomorrow,” Wednesday.
Utah is currently one of 36 states that actively use the death penalty. As of June 18 there are nine inmates serving time on death row in the state of Utah.
Amy Bailey, an associate professor of sociology, had been asked to screen the documentary that will appear on PBS early in 2011. The documentary follows a capital murder trial that occurred in California.
“I use a lot of documentary films in my classes when I teach, and so I think that apparently some film houses have become aware of that and contacted me, and asked if we would be able to do something here at Utah State,” Bailey said.
The movie followed the trial of the murder of Risa Bejarano by Juan Chavez. The slightly graphic film showed crime scene photos and includes commentary from experts on both sides of the death penalty debate, as well as testimony from the friends and family of Bejarano and thoughts from the jurors in the case concerning how they came to their decision.
The film maker behind this film also produced a documentary called “Aging Out,” which followed the lives of young adults leaving foster care, Bailey said.
“Within about a year of that film wrapping one of the individuals that was followed really closely during that film was actually murdered.”
“Aging Out” was used during the trial to provide a humanizing factor to Bejarano, and was also featured in the documentary “No Tomorrow”. The inclusion of the documentary during the trial was controversial. The defense argued that its inclusion was central to the defendant receiving the death penalty.
The film itself was well-received by the students in attendance. Many students said they felt the movie fairly portrayed both sides of the death sentence debate. Experts on both sides commented on the case shown in the video as well as shared their general views about the death sentence.
Sebastian Hoth, a student who attended the screening, said he liked the film and how it showed the reasons for the death penalty as well as showing the processes involved with a trial involving the death penalty.
Students had the chance to discuss the film afterwards. The discussion centered on what the students felt the movie did not adequately answer, or clarifying information about the death penalty.
“It’s disproportionately visited on people of color, on poor people, on people who don’t have access to resources,” Bailey said. “I think it’s highly unlikely that, for example, executives at BP are going to be brought up on death penalty charges for the 11 oil rig workers who were killed in the explosion last spring.”
According to the film, there have been approximately 1,100 executions since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 and that during that same time period 130 people who had been sentenced to death were later proven innocent.
According to the movie, the other option currently available at this time is a life sentence without the chance of parole. Some of the students felt that option was a far better one, while others felt that it was not harsh enough.
The film also stated that the appeals process takes many years and most people on death row will likely die of other causes before their sentence is carried out and they are executed.
“I didn’t know it took that long,” said Madison Cassita. “I’m a little more confused as to what I’d choose.”
Some students said the movie had changed their views on the death sentence, while others said it gave them more information, but it did not change their beliefs,
Casey Petersen said he didn’t feel the film had changed his views on the death sentence at all, but that it had provided with more information with which he could make a more informed decision.
For more information on the documentary “No Tomorrow,”a synopsis of the film and its release date visit http://www.pbs.org/no-tomorrow/.
– randall.henry@aggiemail.usu.edu