Death row has seen various locations throughout its history in Texas. Initially housed in the East Building of the Huntsville Unit from 1928 to 1952, it then transitioned to a building adjacent to the East Wall of the Huntsville Unit until 1965 when the electric chair was in use. Afterward, the inmates on death row were transferred to the Ellis Unit until 1999, when the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) relocated death row to the Polunsky Unit.
The Polunsky Unit is distinct for its single-person cells, each equipped with a window, where death row inmates are housed individually. Here, inmates receive standard dietary provisions and are provided with access to reading, writing, and legal materials. Depending on their custody level, some inmates may even have access to a radio. For female inmates on death row, they are accommodated at the O’Daniel Unit, each identified by special death row numbers rather than regular TDCJ-ID numbers.
Historically, executions in Texas have undergone significant changes. Hanging served as the primary means of execution from 1819 to 1923, after which the state authorized the use of the electric chair. This authorization centralized executions in Huntsville, whereas previously, Texas counties were responsible for their own executions.
The first electrocution took place on February 8, 1924, with Charles Reynolds being the first to face this method of execution. Over time, several sets of brothers faced the electric chair together, including the Noels, the Robins, and the Browns, among others. Notably, Raymond Hamilton, a member of the infamous “Bonnie and Clyde” gang, was executed in 1935 after escaping from death row briefly.
The era of electrocutions in Texas ended on July 30, 1964, with the execution of Joseph Johnson. A total of 361 inmates were electrocuted in the state before the U.S. Supreme Court declared capital punishment cruel and unusual in 1972. This decision led to the commutation of existing death sentences to life imprisonment.
However, revisions to the Texas Penal Code in 1973 reinstated the death penalty, allowing for executions to resume in 1974. John Devries became the first man placed on death row under the revised statute but took his own life in 1974. Subsequently, lethal injection became the primary method of execution in Texas in 1977, with Charlie Brooks being the first to face this method in 1982.
Furthermore, starting from January 12, 1996, close relatives and friends of the deceased victim were permitted to witness executions, marking another change in the state’s capital punishment procedures.
Death Row USA
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) produces a quarterly publication titled “Death Row USA,” providing comprehensive insights into death penalty data, including state-wise death row populations and other pertinent statistics within the United States. These reports are conveniently available for download in Adobe PDF format.
For years, the Legal Defense Fund has stood at the forefront of the campaign against the death penalty, striving to eradicate both this practice and the specter of racial bias from our judicial system. Whether meted out by federal or state entities, the death penalty is riddled with systemic deficiencies, notably enduring racial disparities and the specter of human fallibility.
Presently, the death penalty remains sanctioned in 27 states, alongside federal jurisdictions and the U.S. Military. However, compelling evidence fails to support its purported deterrent effect on crime. Since 1973, an alarming 189 individuals, wrongfully convicted and condemned to death, have been exonerated—among them, a staggering 100 are Black.
The nexus between racism and capital punishment is undeniable. Originating from a dark legacy of slavery, lynchings, and white vigilantism, the death penalty continues to reflect and perpetuate racial injustices in sentencing practices.
As of January 1, 2024, records indicate that at least 1,582 individuals have met their demise through execution since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.
United States Capital Punishment
Capital punishment in the United States remains a topic of significant debate and scrutiny. Currently, it is sanctioned by 27 states, the federal government, and the U.S. military. While legal frameworks still permit the death penalty in California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, it’s noteworthy that gubernatorial moratoriums on executions are in place in these states.
Notably, Texas has emerged as a leader in executions since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. However, the states of California, Florida, Texas, and Alabama harbor the largest populations on death row, reflecting the profound complexities surrounding this issue.
As of October 1, 2020, the United States held 2,557 individuals under sentence of death, underscoring the scale of this practice. The methods of execution in the country encompass lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging, and firing squad, each carrying its own set of ethical and logistical considerations.
Several jurisdictions in the U.S. have opted out of implementing death penalty statutes, including Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and others. These decisions reflect evolving societal attitudes and legal perspectives on the moral implications of capital punishment.
For those seeking further insights into the landscape of capital punishment in the United States, resources such as the Bureau of Justice Statistics-Capital Punishment offer valuable information and analysis.
Examining the process of lethal injection, it typically involves a single drug protocol of Pentobarbital. The average duration spent on death row prior to execution stands at approximately 11.22 years, though there have been instances of significantly shorter and longer periods.
In exploring the demographics of executed individuals, the average age at the time of execution is 39 years old. Remarkably, there have been cases of individuals executed at notably young ages, such as Jay Pinkerton, Jesse De La Rosa, and Toronto Patterson, all aged 24 at the time of their executions. Conversely, there are instances of individuals executed at advanced ages, including Carl Buntion, Billie Coble, and Lester Bower, highlighting the diverse range of circumstances within the realm of capital punishment.
What is the longest time on death row?
In 1968, Hakamada Iwao received a death sentence, marking what many consider the longest tenure on death row globally. For over 45 years, he endured the confines of solitary confinement, a testament to the extreme duration of his incarceration.
His conviction stemmed from a trial marred by injustice, accused of the murder of his employer and the employer’s family. After enduring relentless interrogation for 20 days, Hakamada “confessed,” only to recant during the trial, citing police coercion through beatings and threats.
In a significant turn of events in March 2014, the Shizuoka district court, which had initially sentenced him to death, granted Hakamada a retrial. This decision arose from newfound DNA evidence that cast serious doubt on the validity of his conviction. Despite this retrial, the shadow of the death penalty continued to loom over him.
The call for retrial gained further traction with the disclosure of over 600 pieces of evidence, ordered by the court following Hakamada’s second retrial request in 2008. These revelations undermined the credibility of previous evidence, strengthening his case for exoneration.
However, the prosecution swiftly contested the decision, leading to a subsequent ruling by the Tokyo High Court in June 2018, denying Hakamada’s retrial request. Nonetheless, he remained free pending further legal proceedings. Subsequently, an appeal by Hakamada’s legal team prompted Japan’s Supreme Court to overturn the High Court’s decision in December 2020, urging a reevaluation of the retrial appeal.
In Japan, executions are carried out clandestinely through hanging, with death row inmates receiving notice of their impending fate only on the morning of execution. Family members often learn of the execution after it has already occurred, underscoring the secrecy surrounding capital punishment in the country.
Amnesty International staunchly opposes the death penalty under all circumstances, emphasizing the inherent injustice and inhumanity of such practices, regardless of the crime’s nature or the individual’s characteristics, as well as the state’s chosen method of execution.
How much does it cost to go to death row?
The incremental expense associated with housing an inmate on death row, in contrast to the maximum-security facilities where individuals serving life sentences without the possibility of parole typically reside, amounts to $90,000 annually per prisoner. With California currently accommodating 670 inmates on death row, this translates to an annual expenditure of $63.3 million.
Based on conservative estimates, the Commission approximates the yearly expenses of the existing (death penalty) system to be $137 million. Should the recommended reforms by the Commission be implemented to ensure a just process, the projected cost of the system would escalate to $232.7 million annually.
Alternatively, a system where the scope of death-eligible crimes is significantly reduced would incur an annual cost of $130 million. Furthermore, adopting a system that mandates a maximum penalty of life imprisonment rather than capital punishment would result in an annual expenditure of $11.5 million.
Has a woman ever been on death row?
According to the latest update from the Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide, as of March 11, 2024, there are 52 female inmates awaiting execution on death rows across various states in the United States. Here is a breakdown of their demographic details:
| State | County | Name | Race |
| AL | Franklin | Scott, Christie Michelle | White |
| AL | Houston | Blackmon, Patricia | Black |
| AL | Houston | Gobble, Tierra Capri | White |
| AL | Mobile | Keaton, Heather | Black |
| AL | Russell | Graham, Lisa | White |
| AZ | Maricopa | Andriano, Wendi | White |
| AZ | Pima | Forde, Shawna | White |
| AZ | Maricopa | Allen, Sammantha | White |
| CA | Alameda | Michaud, Michelle | White |
| CA | Los Angeles | Martin, Valerie | White |
| CA | Los Angeles | McDermott, Maureen | White |
| CA | Los Angeles | Rodriguez, Angelina | Latino |
| CA | Los Angeles | Thompson, Catherine | Black |
| CA | Los Angeles | Williams, Manling | Asian |
| CA | Modoc | Rhoades, Cherie | Native American |
| CA | Orange | Alfaro, Maria | Latino |
| CA | Orange | DeLeon, Skylar Sophia* | White |
| CA | Orange | Nelson, Tanya | Asian |
| CA | Riverside | Hann, Jessica Marie** | White |
| CA | Riverside | Hunter, Lorraine Alison | Black |
| CA | Riverside | Magaña, Belinda | Latino |
| CA | Riverside | Rottiers, Brooke | White |
| CA | Riverside | Sarinana, Cathy | White |
| CA | Riverside | Snyder, Janeen | White |
| CA | San Bernardino | Coffman, Cynthia | White |
| CA | San Diego | Dalton, Kerry | White |
| CA | San Diego | Eubanks, Susan | White |
| CA | San Diego | Gonzales, Veronica | Latino |
| CA | Ventura | Caro, Socorro | Latino |
| FL | Brevard | Allen, Margaret | Black |
| FL | Escambia | Brown, Tina | Black |
| FL | Santa Rosa | Rodgers, Jenna*** | White |
| GA | Gwinnett | Moss, Tiffany | Black |
| ID | Ada | Row, Robin | White |
| KY | Fayette | Caudill, Virginia | White |
| LA | Orleans | Frank, Antoinette | Black |
| MS | Forrest | Chamberlin, Lisa | White |
| NC | Forsyth | Moore, Blanche T. | White |
| NC | Wake | Parker, Carlette | Black |
| OH | Lucas | Vixen, Taci**** | White |
| OH | Trumbull | Roberts, Donna | White |
| OH | Warren | Drain, Victoria***** | White |
| OK | Oklahoma | Andrew, Brenda | White |
| PA | Washington | Tharp, Michelle Sue | White |
| TN | Knox | Pike, Christa | White |
| TX | Bowie | Parker, Taylor | White |
| TX | Cameron | Lucio, Melissa | Latino |
| TX | Dallas | Routier, Darlie | White |
| TX | Harris | Carty, Linda | Black |
| TX | Harris | Sheppard, Erica | Black |
| TX | Randall | Holberg, Brittany | White |
| TX | Smith | Cargill, Kimberly | White |
*Skylar Sophia DeLeon, formerly sentenced under the name Skylar Julius DeLeon, transitioned while on California’s death row. **Jessica Marie Hann, formerly sentenced under the name Jason Michael Hann, transitioned while on California’s death row. ***Jenna Rodgers, formerly sentenced under the name Jeremiah Rodgers, transitioned while on Florida’s death row. ****Taci Vixen, formerly sentenced under the name Timothy Hoffner, transitioned while on Ohio’s death row. *****Victoria Drain, formerly sentenced under the name Joel Drain, transitioned while on Ohio’s death row.
Who decides the death penalty?
The imposition of the death penalty is reserved solely for individuals found guilty of capital offenses, which encompass crimes like murder, treason, genocide, or the assassination or abduction of high-ranking officials such as a Congressman, the President, or a Supreme Court justice. Unlike other forms of punishment, the decision to apply the death penalty rests with a jury. While many states have ceased its usage, the federal government retains the authority to employ it. Notably, the Supreme Court has ruled that executing individuals who were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime or those with intellectual disabilities constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” under the United States Constitution.
Is death row legal in all 50 states?
For years, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) has stood at the forefront of the battle against the death penalty and the eradication of racial bias within the legal system. Regardless of whether it’s implemented at the federal or state level, the death penalty is marred by significant shortcomings, notably persistent racial discrimination and the inevitability of human error.
Presently, 27 states, along with the federal government and the U.S. Military, continue to enforce capital punishment. However, there exists no substantial evidence to support the notion that the death penalty serves as an effective deterrent against crime. Shockingly, since 1973, at least 189 individuals who were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death have been exonerated, with a staggering 100 of these exonerees being of Black descent.
The ties between racism and the death penalty are deeply entrenched. Originating from the grim legacy of slavery, lynchings, and white vigilantism, racial disparities in sentencing persist unabated to this day.
As of January 1, 2024, a grim tally of 1,582 individuals have faced execution since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.