Jarvis Masters was
convicted of participating in the killing of a prison guard, Sergeant Howell
Burchfield, despite the fact that he was in another part of the prison
when the guard was killed. Another prisoner was convicted of actually
stabbing Sergeant Burchfield, and a third man of ordering the killing. While
we respect the Burchfield family's desire for justice, we believe that
Jarvis is not guilty of the crime for which he alone was given the death
sentence.
This website provides
an introduction to Jarvis Masters' life and work. You can find out about
Jarvis's background
and see
pictures of Jarvis. We have provided a summary of how
and why Jarvis was sentenced to death, and an update on his appeal.
We also set out why we believe Jarvis
is innocent.
While living on death
row, Jarvis has become an eloquent writer.
Read about his highly-praised book Finding Freedom -- Writings From
Death Row, including how
to order it. We have placed excerpts
from Jarvis's writings throughout the site. Finding Freedom
has been praised
by such important figures as Angela Davis and Pema Chödrön, and is being
used in classrooms as a teaching tool to show children an alternative
to violence.
An important aspect
of Jarvis's life on Death Row has been his Buddhist practice. Read about
how Jarvis became a Buddhist,
and how meditation
has changed his life and affected the lives of his fellow prisoners.
We in the Committee
join the Catholic Church, numerous Protestant denominations, Amnesty International,
and people of conscience around the world in seeking an end to capital
punishment. We have included pages discussing abolition
of the death penalty, and offer suggestions on how you can join in this
work and assist in the effort to free
Jarvis.
Many people have responded
to Jarvis's situation. We will post some of the feedback our Committee
has received from supporters. We also provide a way for you to respond
to this website and to support the campaign to free Jarvis Jay Masters.
Pema Chödrön is one
of America's best-known Buddhist teachers, and is a personal teacher of
Jarvis Masters. This is what she writes about Jarvis:
"Jarvis
is an easy man to respect and an easy man to love. What I learn from
him all the time is what it really means to keep one's vows of not harming
and of helping other people in whatever ways one can. I always think,
'If Jarvis can do it in those most challenging and difficult situations,
I can do it too.' It is a continual aspiration from my heart that Jarvis
Masters not be killed and that I have the pleasure of knowing him as
a free man; a free man who I know will benefit all the people he encounters."
JARVIS'
STORIES IN NEW ANTHOLOGY 
