Life After Death Row Summary

During a TED talk, University of Houston Law Professor David R. Dow shared lessons gained from the twenty years during which he protected more than a hundred death row inmates. Professor Dow declared that there are regular elements in the lives of the individuals who are as of now confronting the death penalty. Dow expressed, “If you tell me the name of a death row inmate - doesn't matter what state he's in, doesn't matter if I've ever met him before - I'll write his biography for you. And eight out of ten times, the details of that biography will be more or less accurate…Eighty percent of the people on death row are people who came from some sort of dysfunctional family….Eighty percent of the people on death row are people who had exposure to the juvenile justice system.” Professor Dow asserts that intervention during earlier stages of defendants’ lives might be one of the most effective ways of preventing them from committing violent crimes later on: “People might disagree about whether a murderer should have been executed. But I think everybody would agree that the best possible version…would be a story where no murder ever occurs.” Moreover, Dow explains, “For every $15,000 that we spend intervening in the lives of

In “The Death Penalty is a Step Back” is a written essay by Coretta Scott King, argues that the death penalty is unethical and illegitimate. In doing so, she develops this strong statement by, first, establishing her moral right to make this statement and to promote a non-violence over the death penalty.

In March 2014, an inmate from Louisiana was released after serving thirty years on death row. Convicted of a 1984 robbery-murder, Mr. Glenn Ford was exonerated from his charges after a Louisiana Supreme Court review of his case found evidence proving his innocence. Left with nothing more than a $20 gift certificate, Glenn Ford departed from Angola State Penitentiary with neither direction nor purpose. Grim realities hit him as he swallowed in the fresh, cool air: he had lung cancer, no savings, and was “free” from the confines of his 5x7 prison cell. A year after his exculpation, he succumbed to his illness and passed away. His family hasn’t seen a dime of the compensation

Summary: Chapter 2 discusses correctional history. Two French visitors were able to compare and contrast their experience in an American prison. Early punishment in the western countries consisted of whipping, branding, mutilation, drowning, suffocation, execution, and banishment. The first correctional facility were jails and influenced by Catholic Churches in the middle age times. This chapter introduces two individuals that were very influential to the correction system, John Howard, and William Penn. John Howard could persuade the government to lighten the punishment, separate jails for females and males, provide sanitary, food, and water. William Penn served jail time but was released due to wealth. Later in life he was given the opportunity to propose laws & he used this moment to fix how inmates are treated. He was against harsh punishment.

The Book is written by a former radio reporter, Mumia Abu-Jamal who, during the time in the book is in a Pennsylvania prison awaiting his execution. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1982 for the murder of a Philadelphia police officer. Live from Death Row is a collection of writings while he was in prison which tells a passionate and emotional account of the brutalities and humiliations of prison life. He explains the rules and regulations and day to day life in prison, on death row. He goes into detail about not only his feelings about prison life, but almost the feeling of life in general after being in prison compared to life out of prison. He explains what rules are enforced and which rules he violates and what is the outcome. He speaks of racism and political bias not only in America but mainly in the American justice system which he experiences first hand. He tells of instances of controversy surrounding the death penalty and freedom of speech against himself and others. This book is a compilation of the notes Mumia has taken over the years he was in prison and he highlights specific incidents to show readers what the life of a prisoner on death row is like. This volume is a collection of his writings, which documents the life in prison from his first-hand experience. I, like many I believe found this book fragmented as it is broken up into many short areas of topics and thought processes which he articulates and attempts to explain one issue after another to

Charles Ng and Leonard Lake met in Leavenworth Prison where Charles was serving a sentence for stealing weapons while in the Marines. After leaving prison the two men moved in together and began a murder, abduction and rape spree. When police raided their remote cabin Lake committed suicide by swallowing cyanide pills and Leonard fled. Twelve bodies (including two babies) were discovered on the property and when he was apprehended Ng was charged. He was finally sentenced to death for the crimes and is currently awaiting execution at San Quentin prison.

In the article "Prison Conditions for death row and life without parole imates," it includes different facts about how much money the government is actually spending on inmates in prisons. Article also includes the differences between death row inmates and life without parole inmates. For example, "Death row inmates have to eat meals alone in their cells, while life without parole inmates eat in the chew hall, or in a day room. "The article also hits keen aspects of the different lifestyles of life without parole inmates and death row inmates. Another example of this would be that life without parole inmates have more access to not be isolated and more access to more privileges rather than death row inmates.

Many Death row inmates endure a plethora of years within a prison, the majority of the time in solitary confinement with no social interaction, very little exposure to the environment, and in a room with bare walls or the necessities: a bed, sink, and toilet along with other hygienic needs such as a toothbrush, toilet paper, etc. Prisoners sit awaiting their execution day for years. Through my research there has been an abundance of evidence examining the situation of whether or not this is ethical/moral. These questions have been addressed, but my research looks at it from a variety of perspectives including the prisoner and family of the victims. Is waiting for one’s execution morally right? What if one is found innocent after 30 years

Your post was very genuine and stated how you truly feel. “Some prisoners also work in facility services such as the kitchen, laundry, cleaning, maintenance and gardening (State of Victoria, 2015, para. 2).” This is for all inmates to gain experience in jail, so they come into the community to do well. Also, most inmates that work in the kitchen are trained in the prison to become chefs. Additionally, this is the only way prison meals are served. Further, not even death row prisoners are exempt from working. The only rule is if the inmate it 65 and older or medically unstable to work (State of Victoria, 2015, para. 1). Therefore, the prisoners are working. The government just hasn’t put forth any means of making them pay for the medical services.

In the video, “Life after Prison: Success on the Outside,” explains personal perspectives of currenta and former prison inmates regarding their process to the life of freedom. To start the process of freedom, inmates must be able to change their behavior to become better citizens for society. To help aid to changing behavior, programs were designed for inmates to give skills, and a privilege to gain important productive aspects such as rehabilitation for drug addiction. Education is another way to help inmates by giving them something to learn and this become more logically and critical thinkers that would help deter criminal activity. Goals remain an important part for a prisoner that they would know what they need to do to achieve those goals as well as gaining confidence in themselves. If inmate act accordingly, and completed whatever the prison ask them to do in a effortful way, then they can be rewarded by getting parole and eventually life outside of prison. Despite the intentions of parole, inmates must continue to display good behavior by adjusting to life outside as well as getting support from others.

The basic tenets of the Criminal Justice system, namely the Correctional System, is to take people convicted of a crime and turn them into productive citizens. Their time in prison is intended to be a personal time of reflection, a period where a person can think about their crimes, recognize they have committed a wrong, and develop a plan to either right that wrong or identify how they can refrain from recidivating. This concept is dubbed rehabilitative justice. The death penalty is not rehabilitative justice.

When someone is going through the death row appeal process the state pays for their legal fees. One district attorney, Stan Garnett, estimated that the death penalty prosecution of a single case, including the trial and appeals to date, has cost some $18 million (Cost of Death Penalty, 2013). Further, Defense Counsel, Lindy Frolich, testified that, while a regular first degree murder case costs her agency about $16,000 per year, per case for the defense attorneys and costs, a death penalty case costs about $400,000 per year, per case (Cost of Death Penalty, 2013). There are multiple state reports that have data resembling the exponential price increase of death row process being more than life in prison without parole from amnestyusa.org.

There are those who are behind bars who really shouldn’t; they are innocent, but the problem is that the legal system has found them guilty. Thanks to the availability of DNA testing there are now those getting appeals years later, unfortunately this can result in “more than 14 years behind bars. [The harsh reality is that] prison life and the complete loss of freedom[,] are only compounded by the feelings of what might have been” (Innocence Project, 2015); if they had not been wrongfully convicted. The Government of Canada has set up restitution for those who have gone through these situations, but restitution can only provide a reasonable amount of money towards the value of human life that has been taken away after being wrongfully found

The reason why the Criminal Justice System (CJS) exists is to ensure justice is delivered –punish the guilty and help them stop offending, while at the same time protect the innocent. The penal system often employs different measure, some of which may involve the deprivation of fundamental human rights, such as freedom. Nevertheless, they are often justified on the basis of requirements of just social order and beneficial impact. The ongoing political debate and media coverage seem to be constantly accusing the CJS of leniency and inability to take appropriate actions, requiring it to issue harsher punishments.

In the book, Capital Punishment by Stephen Penner, the author begins with religious views about emotions and the differences between wrath, anger, and rage. I was immediately intrigued because I was interested to see how it will tie into capital punishment. The author started by introducing his main character Mr. Michael Mitchell. Who was a well respected lawyer in which he worked for his previous boss’s son. Immediately I knew that that age difference will impact Mr.Mitchell in some form. He also is divorced with children and his ex-wife nags him for money but doesn't give him enough time with the kids. The story begins when the guard asked him to share the story of how he got to the position he is presently in, which was being sentenced to