About


Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty (MADP) is the only statewide organization dedicated solely to ending capital punishment in Missouri through advocacy, education, and community engagement.

Our History

Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty was formed in 1987 as a grassroots coalition of individuals and organizations committed to ending capital punishment in Missouri. From the beginning, MADP has worked to highlight the injustice and human cost of the death penalty.

In its early years, MADP organized vigils, public forums, and community outreach to raise awareness about executions in Missouri. Over time, the organization grew into a statewide network, bringing together people of faith, civic leaders, legal advocates, families of the incarcerated, and concerned citizens.

For over three decades, MADP has stood alongside those on death row and their families, supported clemency efforts, and worked to amplify the voices of exonerees and justice-impacted communities. The organization continues to educate the public, engage policymakers, and mobilize Missourians toward the shared goal of ending the death penalty once and for all.

Heidi S. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director

Heidi Moore is the Executive Director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty (MADP), where she leads statewide efforts to abolish the death penalty.

Dr. Moore holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis from Saint Louis University, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Missouri, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Drury University. Her career began with the Missouri Department of Corrections, where she worked at Potosi Correctional Center with individuals under a death sentence. She later directed reentry housing programs for men through a Catholic nonprofit, serving people returning home after decades in prison, including veterans and those without community support. 

With over 20 years of experience working with justice-impacted individuals, Dr. Moore brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to her leadership, including surviving childhood sexual abuse and assault and having family members incarcerated in the state and federal systems. She has taught criminal justice courses at multiple universities and remains active in advocacy networks, including All of Us or None – St. Louis, and she is on the board of Monarch Immigrant Services and Seeds of Justice Network.

Dr. Moore is committed to building coalitions, expanding community partnerships, and ensuring that MADP continues its critical mission: ending the death penalty in Missouri once and for all.


Board Members

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMAILS

Receive updates from state office staff, get action items for those facing execution, attend meetings to learn more about how to help end the death penalty in Missouri, and more!

Make an Impact

Support death penalty abolition in Missouri by making a donation today!