Wednesday, March 28, 2012

last statements

Somehow I just ended up on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice database that has all of the last statements of prisoners the state has executed. Wow. This is an infographic from GOOD that shows the most common words used in last statements:



This one was particularly interesting to me. These are the last words of a convicted rapist and murderer, Johnny Johnson:
The Polunsky dungeon should be compared with the Death Row Community as existing not living. Why do I say this, the Death Row is full of isolated hearts and suppressed minds. We are filled with love looking for affection and a way to understand. I am a Death Row resident of the Polunsky dungeon. Why does my heart ache. We want pleasure love and satisfaction. It. The walls of darkness crushed in on me. Life without meaning is life without purpose. But the solace within the Polunsky dungeon, the unforgivesness within society, the church Pastors and Christians. It is terrifying. Does anyone care or who I am. Can you feel me people. The Polunsky dungeon is what I call the pit of hopelessness. The terrfying thing is the US is the only place, country that is the only civilized country that is free that says it will stop murder and enable justice. I ask each of you to lift up your voices to demand an end to the Death Penalty. If we live, we live to the Lord. If we die we die to the Lord. Christ rose again, in Jesus name. Bye Aunt Helen, Luise, Joanna and to all the rest of yall. You may proceed Warden. (began singing)
WHEN WILL THE WORLD UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH? This man had a history of sexual assault and assault with a deadly weapon, but somehow releasing him into the real world without therapy and ongoing treatment was a good idea? No. Sentencing without treatment is only perpetuating crime.

I'm not making any claims to minimize the crimes committed by prisoners on death row, but it is not the state's place to kill in the name of justice. Just disgusting.
 

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