The work of The Death Penalty Project originally began in 1992 concentrating on appeals in individual capital cases from the Caribbean and applications to international human rights tribunals.  Since 2003 we have also been assisting lawyers and NGOs in a number of African countries in criminal and constitutional cases being brought on behalf of prisoners facing the death penalty. The organisation aims to achieve its objectives in four main ways:

• Free legal representation and advice.  For individual prisoners under sentence of death in Caribbean countries who have exhausted all other domestic appeals we will provide pro bono representation in applications to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, which is still the final Court of Appeal for all Anglophone Caribbean countries, save for Barbados and Guyana. For prisoners in other jurisdictions, or for jurisdictions that do not retain the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as their final Court of Appeal, we provide legal advice in criminal appeals and constitutional challenges to the death penalty. 
• Strategic litigation.  Where violations of  international human rights law take place, we will take cases to international and regional human rights tribunals seeking appropriate remedies. This serves to promote minimum fair trial guarantees, and to develop human rights standards restricting the imposition and implementation of the death penalty.
• Consultation.  We advise and enter into discussion with governments, members of the legal profession and NGOs in any jurisdiction on questions of domestic and international human rights law concerning the imposition and application of the death penalty.
• Research and training.  We aim to consolidate our groundbreaking legal work through research studies, publications, training and education, particularly for those members of the legal profession involved in the defence and prosecution of capital cases.  We also coordinate Judicial Colloquiums and themed workshops for members of the Judiciary.

We work with a number of dedicated barristers, academics and medical experts in the UK and abroad whose pro bono assistance enables prisoners under sentence of death and without financial resources or legal aid to pursue the criminal, constitutional and international remedies to which they are entitled.