I have five PPs, four of whom are in different states, on death row. My favorite PP is in CA; he and I have gotten SO close over the past three months.

They have not had an execution at San Quentin in three years, however, they are preparing for one next Wednesday (the 19th). He is sad - I am sad. I know that it's hard on the other DR inmates whenver there is an execution. I was looking on the CA Dept. of Corrections website, and you can see death row pictures. Then, I really got sad. It just seems so unfair . . . .

Here is the site -
http://www.corr.ca.gov/CommunicationsOffice/CapitalPunishment/death_row_photos.asp

IT JUST SEEMS SO INHUMANE!!!

P.S. I just needed to vent - thanks for listening.

You know, you raise a very common thing. One of my DR pals told me that it's very hard. Most DR inmates are there for years and they develop a bond with each other and they become like a little family and it's a great loss when someone is executed.

I feel sad for you.

Will

I know it's probably a touchy subject in here, but what's so inhumane about someone getting the death penalty? I agree that there have been mistakes made in the past when a person has been wrongfully charged, but many are guilty of the crime that they have been convicted of. I would say it's pretty inhumane what they did to their victim(s), and a burden on the taxpayers to pay for all the appeals the DR inmates go through. If someone on DR gets three years to live, then they should be grateful for the time that is given to them. I'm not saying that they don't deserve to be treated with kindness, but it's very hard for me to feel sympathetic for someone who blatantly violated the rights of others.

I will add my 2 cents. All human life has value. Regardless how a person lives and regardless the mistakes and/or choices someone makes, their life is special and precious and the folks on death row are no more deserving to die than the victim that landed them on death row.

The death penalty is nothing but a government sanctioned murder. The death penalty is nothing but a government sanctioned murder. I am not one who believes an eye for an eye. While I do believe that all behavior should have consequences, I do not think taking one's life is the answer. I am a very big opponent to the death penalty without exception.

The staunch supporters of capital punishment will often tell you that it is a useful form of punishment because they want it to serve as a deterrent. But the reality is, it is no more of a deterrent than any other form of punishment. The state with the highest murder rate (Texas) also has the highest number of death sentences and promulgated executions. If it is meant to be a deterrent, then the murder rate should go down. But that is not the case.

Frankly, I'd prefer to see the government use death row inmates to pick up trash on the roadways and highways and clean graffitti off the side of buildings and other public places. As it is now, we pay civil service workers to do it and we can save our tax dollars. But regardless, I do not support a murder for a murder. It's just plain wrong.

Will

"Frankly, I'd prefer to see the government use death row inmates to pick up trash on the roadways and highways and clean graffitti off the side of buildings and other public places. As it is now, we pay civil service workers to do it and we can save our tax dollars. But regardless, I do not support a murder for a murder. It's just plain wrong."

I agree with you 100% about that.

I guess I'm more in favor of social justice and I do not see the death penalty as murder. I also would want murderers picking up trash along the highway because there is always the chance they will try and escape, and possibly even have a repeat offense. Although, the family and friends of victims should be able to feel that justice has been served. I know that in Indiana, a lot they use a lot of inmates to pick up trash along the highways and clean up graffiti, but these are always individuals who have committed less serious crimes. In the past, I've had the opportunity to supervise inmates while they performed community service, and these inmates were actually given weekend passes for their service.

One of my special pals is in Lucasville, Ohio where they do executions at sometimes and he said when they do one it's just very cold in there and really weird feeling... He doesnt look forward to those days at all and i couldnt imagine being one of the people that work there either.... I dont have a death row pal but i want one.... I wrote to alot of people over Christmas and have gotten quite a bit of letters back so maybe i'll get a death row pal out of that.... who knows.....

i also do not believe in a eye for an eye, and have also not noticed the death penalty being any kind of deterent for crime, i think educating our young is a good start and i think alot of these people on d/r could share alot of insight with our at risk youth on gangs, drugs, etc and where this life will lead you,to me that would be reaching out and contributing to society, i think there are alot of other things we could do to adress crime, but to me , my opinion only the d/p is legalized murder, what lesson does that teach, before anyone blast me for my opinion, i also am a aunt of a beloved 21 year old nephew who was shot and killed, i know both sides of this, but a eye for an eye is not the answer in my opinion

Yes, all life does have value. While I understand that "if you do the crime, you do the time", I guess I'm more of a "life without the possibility of parole" supporter.

Death Row cannot possibly be a deterrent! There are 600 on DR at San Quentin alone! I've also come across information on the internet where wrongly accused inmates have been executed in the past.

So, a murder for a murder, what does that solve? We are playing God. I wonder if the CO who has to administer the lethal injections sleeps at night -