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Death Row Observations
Years ago a physician asked me to contact a death row inmate on behalf of an attorney to resolve some medical issues. On this death row, inmates were not permitted to see a nurse or physician unless they paid or had money in an inmate acount. He wasn't a nice fellow, and lived in a hot five by eight foot box for almost twenty years, allowed out for forty minutes a day to excercise in a ten by twenty foot room. No hot food, no milk, no fruit, no fresh vegetables, his mail often ripped up by the guards, the only fresh meat undercooked chicken legs. In the summer the cell was invariably over 100 degrees in the winter, water froze. Not allowed art supplies, and only two books in the cell at a time. Outsiders not allowed to send books, clipping magazines. Once a year a small christmas package could be mailed in. He was a terrible person, but clearly mentally ill. He served his nation in time of war, but that didn't count. In any event a few weeks ago he was led out in chains and strapped to a guerney, and injected with a lethal dose of chemicals. I had written him often, mostly to answer medical questions (he was quite ill). I had always been very pro death penalty until this situation came about, and I began to reflect on the nature of justice, life, and the right of society to take another's life. He may well have deserved death, but locked up in that cell for twenty years was also punishment. Before he walked the last few feet to the death chamber he asked forgiveness for his actions. And I became convinced that executions are very dehumanizing to a society, and perhaps the United States should re-think the death penalty. In any event, to this convict, who shall remain un-named, a prayer to God that your soul will rest in peace.
Thanks for that Mid you said it as it is... great post.
We don't have the death penalty here in Australia I, wish we did I, agree they should not be made to sit on death row for that long that would be very hard for the victims family to wait all those years to see the person who murdered a loved one be breathing.
The court cases are enough for the family of someone who has been murdered I don't know about over there but here they are drawn out even when the person has pleaded "Guilty".
My sister was murdered last year in May they have the "GRUB" that did it be hide bars and has pleaded guilty to murder,we now await sentencing . The max he can get for murder is 20 years that does not happen to much he may get 16 years and will be out free to maybe even do it again.
He can change his plea at anytime leading up to sentencing to Mental illness If, that was to happen and he was found to have a mental illness he will be found "not guilty to murder due to mental illness" be put in a mental part of the jail when he gets out he will NOT have a record of murder on his file. Their are people trying to change that law to "guilty to murder due to mental illness"
In that court room my sister means nothing to anyone of those people only to her family, in sentencing its all about if this "GRUB" is fit for society
What I would like to see change as they will never bring back the death penalty, is, while they are doing there time in jail for really hard crimes they should not be allowed to have any contact with their family members, as there will be a light at the end of the tunnel for their family when the person gets out, But not for the family of the victim.
But that will never happen because they would say that was inhumane.
I think the death penalty should only used in cases of extreme measurements! Like a serial killer or something! If some1 is truly i mean truly mentally ill been proven more than once then they should get the help they obviously need!
If someone is shot on site, how do you know you have the right person? Maybe they just arrived to help, and you shot the wrong person. A trial will determine if you have the right person.
I think if someone steals, cut off their hand. I believe if someone murders someone, turn them over to the family of the victim. I think if someone is in prison that long, they are probably not the same person as they were when they committed the original crime. So does the death penalty really do anything beneficial? I would want to kill someone if they hurt someone close to me, however, that is not right either, is it? I say if we get a hold of someone who rapes a child for instance, they should be shot on site and never given the luxury of going to prison. I have decided with the state of the econemy and with me getting older, I will commit a crime, go to jail and they will take care of me till I die and therefore, there will be one less homeless person on the planet. hmm Makes sense to me!
Glad you agree with me.
(I I see 2 or 3 posts have been removed.....)
(I I see 2 or 3 posts have been removed.....)
Hey that was my opinion ... it does not require any attacking remark back.I believe we are allowed to have our opinions still....
Right, money, that's the important thing.
I just wonder if those of you opposed to the death penalty have ever lost a child or spouse to a murder? would you feel differently then? You really can't answer that because you don't know.
I am opposed to 20 year waits. Think of the money that would save.....
I am opposed to 20 year waits. Think of the money that would save.....
Compassion is a bad thing? Of course, we should act quickly lest compassion creep into things and mess it all up.
"Vengeance is mine sayeth the lord".
"Vengeance is mine sayeth the lord".
When I read what you posted here I too felt compassion for this man, however I do not know the circumstances he was incarcerated for so long ,what he did, one assumes it was murder, so then possibly he had killed someones child, mother ,Family member in some horrible way, and compassion fades,if they are found guilty it would be best to carry out the punishment immediatly after the appeals, not 20 years later Surely the Family members of someone killed have feelings?. my personal opinion use the death penalty immediatly after appeals . , As we speak they are letting inmates out of prison, this administration has decided to do that in vast numbers.I doubt if they are murderers but certainly they will be criminals and drug runners.
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