Living on Death Row

Living on Death Row

The purpose of this paper is to examine life on death row. The information obtained in order to write this paper came from one article. In reading the article it is very clear to see the obvious one-sided bias of the author, who is apparently adamantly against the current status of death rows across the United States of America. Unfortunately, no research could be found to illustrate other views or opinions of life on death row. The author of this article used many opinions, first hand accounts and experiences of prisoners living on death row to illustrate his/her ideas. However, there is an obvious bias of those currently living on death row against their living conditions and treatment. It can be assumed that few people would want to be somewhere or enjoy being somewhere when they knew that they would eventually be executed. It is can also be assumed that very few people would find awaiting executing a happy or fulfilling experience. It is interesting to note that while searching the Internet for information on the death penalty an abundance of web sites were found that belonged to prisoners on death row. All of whom claimed that they were wrongly accused, framed for, and innocent of the crimes that they were convicted of committing.

It is the opinion of the author that the main purpose and goal of death row is "human storage." (Article, p.48) By this the author is suggesting that "condemned prisoners [are] treated essentially as bodies kept alive to be killed." (Article, p.48) The author goes on to use examples given by inmates on death row to illustrate the above-mentioned point. On such example included the alleged treatment of a suicidal prisoner on a death row in Texas. Apparently this prisoner was "placed in a straightjacket …handcuffs…placed on his wrists…a crash helmet…. was placed on his head and there he lay for weeks, helpless, alone and drugged." (Article, p. 49) Unfortunately there is no information given as to what else could have been done for the prisoner or what facilities the prison had to deal with this type of issue. This is also an anecdotal example given by someone on death row themselves. It is quite possible that this example may have been exaggerated or distorted in the re-telling or even told in an attempt to get staff in some form of trouble or get back at the staff for a 'wrong' done against the prisoner.