Since becoming involved with someone behind bars i have sought to learn more of there life and what that involves. What i find really hard to believe is how much information you can get on someone even over the net. Like a lot of you know i have chosen NOT to look into my pp's history as i find personally that is an invasion of his privacy. I know a lot of people think otherwise and i can understand why. I have been trying to learn about death row and in doing so came across so much information, even what a persons last statement was. My question is does the public really need to know or have the right to know that kind of final and personal information? Just wanted to know your thoughts.

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The last of all freedoms is the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.
G. W. Allport.

I guess I can answer that with would you like anyone looking into your life, putting you under that microscope?? analyzing everything you have said and done. So my answer is no, I dont think people have that right, and should not be allowed to know such personal information, especially on the net.

When it comes to committing a crime, yes, I DO firmly believe that the public should have full access to that information. The reason I take this position is that the public ALSO has rights to know when they are living next door to a pedophile, or if someone they just met off the street is perhaps a registered sex offender, or has some sort of violent background that could be potentially dangerous or a risk to the public at large. I look at it like this; if I were looking for say example, a babysitter for my children; I want to feel confident that whomever is taking responsibility for my children's care while I'm at work doesn't have some sort of criminal background like abuse, or even burglary, feel me? Or lets say you have a family member that is dating someone they met through maybe a dating service or something like that; would it really be so bad to be able to Google that person's name, just out of safety's sake? All I'm saying is that in this day and age, you CANNOT be too careful. And I don't believe that this is hurting anyone in the long run...those who have gone to prison have essentially forfeited certain rights,as a consequence to their crime/s. It's no different (to me, anyways) than getting a new doctor...do you want someone treating your family who has two or three charges of malpractice in their past? Just some of the things I think about! To each his own; if you choose not to check these sorts of things out, thats totally up to you, those are YOUR rights, and this is just my personal opinion : )

I see it the same as a background check for a job.

I tend to agree with Tess' thoughts on being in the know about certain things. However, I differ when it comes to the death sentence being carried out.

In my opinion, the person being put to death has paid his or her debt to society by being imprisoned and then put to death. No, I do not feel that the public has the right to know the final details. What good would knowing a person's 'last meal' menu, or their 'last words' do for either the victims, their families, or the safety of the general public. I say none.

In the final hours of a convicted person, I feel the family should have time to say their goodbyes and have as much dignity doing so, as possible. Yes, they may have done some horrible things to land them in the position they are in. However, we tend to uthanize (sp) our animals with more respect and dignity. People condemned to death are still human beings, in spite of what they've done.

People might say, "If it was your loved one whom this person murdered or raped, you would feel differently" While that may be true, I cannot say HOW I might feel as I have not walked in those shoes. But I do not think I could, with a clear conscience, allow the courts to go for the death penalty. I do not believe in it. Why? Because the death of another human being is not going to bring my loved one back. Nor is it going to undo the crime committed. By taking another life, it is creating more pain for the family of the condemned. Why force them to 'pay for the sins of their son'?

One might say that someone that can commit such heinious crimes as to warrant the death penalty doesn't have a conscience. I beg to differ. When I began working in Corrections, in training class, we were addressed by an inmate convicted of murdering a couple while strung out on drugs. He spoke of how he thought of his victims on a daily basis, and how if he could change places with them, he would. He's shed many tears over what he's done, and the torment of what he's done is far more than mere death would be. Believe me, when those doors lock at night, time to think is really all they have.

Forgive me for rambling on. But most of you know I'm rather long winded. I just wanted to give others something to ponder. Thanks!

I personally agree that looking into your "pals" crime is an invasion of privacy.even in the case of sex offeders, we need to keep watch over our children just as vigilantly as if we had violent offenders or known child sex offenders living next door. its a sad world we live in, and we need to be realistic.I know I would not want my privacy invaded should the tables be turned.Never once did I ask my man(who was back then, only my pal) anything regarding his crime. I left it all up to him.I did not read any articles on his crime or look up any court records.When he asked why I hadn't, I told him whatever I need to know, I want to hear from him, not some newspaper.I trusted in him 100%,and wouldn't of fallen in love with him otherwise.sure, to some this is foolish, and perhaps others would have delved further into the depths of what crime was committed. what should be IMPORTANT is not the crime, or the person they where then, but the person they have become and are now. so,yes, I feel fully and with conviction that the fact that all this info is out there for anyone to see and read is sad. everyone deserves privacy....

Gosh, some really goooooood thoughts from everyone. I don't know if I can add anything to it. My thoughts for people who are executed. I still have my thoughts about it. For me to know what his last meal was, what his last words were, etc. That is not important. what is important to me, that I pray for him/her and that people truly know what the word forgive is all about, and that all can start the healing process. Also that people on the other side accept this person with open arms and that is called love.

Sincerely,

Fran

i agree with gator well said i too don't believe in putting one to death i see it just makes more viticms and it doesn't bring back ones loved one i also don't think just because a person is in prison we the public have a right to view everything about them i rather get to know the person and if they decide they would like to tell me things i will gladly listen i am not here to judge anyone i myself would rather read the book then judge the cover people change and almost everyone would like to go back and change a few things they have done in the past just as some prisoners would like to do thats just my thoughts on this

I just want to thank you all for your comments and opinions so far. What really got me thinking on this was a young man by the name of Napoleon Beazley #999141 who was executed in Texas and what his last statement was. I hope a lot of you will take the time to read what he had said and make your own opinions. Like i said before, thankyou for your honesty.

__________________
The last of all freedoms is the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.
G. W. Allport.

I`d have to say Yes, I do think the information should be available.
If it was one of my family who did something wrong I wouldn`t want it to be public knowledge, BUT if something horrible was done TO one of my family, I`d certainly want other people to be warned about the offender.
So whats good for the goose, should be good for the gander. In a manner of speaking.

Last meals and last statements being made public, is to my way of thinking, ghoulish.
If the person who is being executed makes a statement of apology to the victims family, and they can get some kind of comfort from it, then that should be their business.
Not something to be plastered all over the internet.
However, there have been rituals involved with execution for a long, long time.
Going back as far as the Aztecs.
Some rituals seem to still apply today.