Death Row in Texas

Conditions of Death Row in Texas The Cell Recreation Communication Hygiene and Health The Food The Handcufing Process A 6x9 cell room No air conditioning No television, only a radio Solid doors and walls to ensure total segregation and confinement 1 hour a day allocated to recreation 23 hours a day in isolation (minus shower time) Must exercise in a metal cage No occupational activities No education training No physical contact with friends or family Only opportunity to talk with other inmates is through the solid metal walls No community religious services Jump suits are changed every 3 days Inmate’s receive 1 roll of toilet paper to last a week Sheets, pillowcases and face cloths are changed weekly Medical emergencies are rarely attended to Long delay for medical forms Strip Search Complete Cavity Search Brutally shoved around Inhumane process Breakfast at 3am Lunch at 10am Dinner at 4pm Poor food choices Small portions David Powell David Powell's description of the conditions on Death Row. Conditions of Death Row in Texas Community Outreach Public Survey Results Public Opinions Pro-Death Penalty Opinions Cell Size “Prison is not intended to be comfortable” “This is bigger than my first apartment” “Even astronauts get more room than this” “Why spend taxpayer money so we can execute a more educated person” “Considering there are innocent children who are neglected the same, it is obviously sad but reality is we have limited resources. However, I think some engagement, in the form of books, friendships, or anything relating to the soul should be provided as best as possible” “They have proven themselves dangerous and should be isolated” Comments about the food “I feel sorry for the guards who have to be awake at 3am” “There are starving children around the world that get less than that” “ They do not deserve anything more than the minimum they need to survive.” “If people in prison want better food, they shouldn’t have committed a crime.” Anti-Death Penalty Opinions Comments about cell size “I don’t think it’s our job to torture inmates or make life unbearable. They are separated from their families. Jail shouldn’t be luxurious but neither should it be tortuous.” “Its inhumane to put a person in a cage” Comments about isolation and lack of education “Prison should be about rehabilitation” “They should get more than one hour of time spent out of their cell.” “Isolation as a form of punishment doesn’t make sense to me.” Comments about the food "Torture is not a democratic ideal. It is enough that their living conditions are isolated for their sentence. Starving them is a step too far" “Dreadful! Just because these men and women have done wrong doesn’t mean they should spend the rest of their lives in such conditions.” “Dehumanizing….unjust and unfair.” “Cold and stale is fine, but there is no need for making them so malnutrition that they need extra medical attention. That’s more money we have to spend for their health.” Undecided about the Death Penalty Comments about the cell size “I think this is enough space.” “If they are in a more confined space they can think more about why they are there” Comments about isolation and lack of educational training “They are still human and deserve a right to programs, human contact, etc” “It allows them to think about their informal issues” Comments about the food “This is crazy. We are all humans even if they committed the crime, they deserve normal rights. Cruel and unusual.” "Show a little humanity because they are still human.” "My food is cold and stale sometimes. We have a lot of obese people in our country.” Community Outreach Link to the deathrow in Texas Website: http://web.me.com/parcraddock/Death_Row_in_Texas/Home.html Comments on isolation and lack of educational training By: Group 7 Rachel, Parker, Aaron, Becca, Rebecca Death Row Syndrome Insanity Delusional Suicidal Supreme Court Consideration Justices Breyer, and Stevens question Constitutionality of long stays Stevens: “Dehumanizing, and suffer two stays of execution” Prolonged Confinement may violate the Eight amendment. (Lackey v. Texas).