Death Row: Interviews With Inmates, Their Families and Opponents of Capital Punishment

By Shirley Dicks

Book Overview

I don't know when we will stop murdering people whether randomly on the streets or systematically in our death chambers. The only way to prevent continuation of the suffering and grief murder occasions in to prevent murder. I have worked with eighteen people who have been executed and five of those I'm convinced were innocent--the words of Joe Ingle, said to be a 1988 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, from Part I (which looks at those who are involved with the fight against the death sentence).The guy I am convicted of killing shot me three times before I fired at him, ...When I look back on life and think about it, I wonder why those thirteen people can decide if I should die. ...Society does not feel our pain, the horror of knowing the exact hour and day that they will set us in the chair and kill us--Mr. D., one of the 11 death row inmates interviewed in Part II. Part III interviews family members.This thought-provoking collection provides much insight on this controversial issue. The United States stand on the death penalty, in light of U.S. leadership in human rights, appears to be a contradiction to the rest of the world. The methods of execution are sometimes extremely painful and not quick. An overwhelming percentage of those on death row are impoverished and would not be there if they had other resources besides desultory and ineffective court-appointed counsel. These and other important issues are poignantly addressed.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0899504779
• ISBN13: 9780899504773
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 6.3"