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RegisSweetness · #1 10-10-2005, 05:33 PM

other than the fact that men on death row can be executed, whats really the difference between being a lifer and a death row inmate? here in california men have been on the row for almost 30 years, and some never get executed. so whats really the difference? and a lotta times ive seen where men on the row (with a good attorney) have a better chance at being free than a lifer does. so whats the difference? see what im getting at here? my point is there shouldnt even be a death row, especially if theres really no difference in it and it sure dont serve no justice (in my opinion)!!

dolphina · #2 10-10-2005, 10:24 PM

Dont quote me on this, but I think lifers get family visits. Yknow, the kind we would do ANYTHING for

LOL Thats the only difference I see. But ya, I get your point and I agree!!

RegisSweetness · #3 10-11-2005, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphina

Dont quote me on this, but I think lifers get family visits. Yknow, the kind we would do ANYTHING for

LOL Thats the only difference I see. But ya, I get your point and I agree!!

LIFERS DONT GET FAMILY VISITS EITHER. ATLEAST THEY DONT HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

dolphina · #4 10-11-2005, 01:22 PM

I didnt realise that. That sucks!!

Atalie · #5 10-11-2005, 01:22 PM

I think for the families, the difference is not knowing. I know I wouyld be feeling dread daily if my loved one was on death row, and I never knew if his number was going to come up. If it is true that lifers can't have family visits in CA ? That sounds like something that needs to be addressed with your Gov. who claims to want prison reform.

rlewis729 · #6 10-12-2005, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RegisSweetness

other than the fact that men on death row can be executed, whats really the difference between being a lifer and a death row inmate? here in california men have been on the row for almost 30 years, and some never get executed. so whats really the difference? and a lotta times ive seen where men on the row (with a good attorney) have a better chance at being free than a lifer does. so whats the difference? see what im getting at here? my point is there shouldnt even be a death row, especially if theres really no difference in it and it sure dont serve no justice (in my opinion)!!

RegisSweetness, I hear you! I have a very very good friend on SQ DR ("Mouse" said to tell Regis hello - Mouse is over in North Seg. now). Anyway, I know there's a guy on his tier that's been there a little over 27 years - he's in his fifties! "Mouse" now has two excellent attorneys, and if God allows it, his chances for freedom look good! So I understand exactly what you're saying.

Javlin · #7 10-13-2005, 04:28 AM

I know Tre, it makes no sence at all.
Keeping someone on death row is more expensive than keeping someone in for life in prison.
I know than in Polunsky they sometimes threight our men like they are state enemies and shit. It's bad. Death row is just wrong.
They keep people in fear for years and years and in the end, it will only destroy more hearts..

Doc's Sis · #8 10-13-2005, 05:19 AM

Death Row is segregation and they have fewer perks. Probably segregated because they committed a horrible crime (murder) and can't be trusted to live in dorm like settings. NO, not all of them will hurt anyone else, but there is no guarantee of that. If the jury decides that is where they need to be, then that's where they are kept. It's up to the jury after they study the facts of the case. IF they consider the person to be dangerous, where should they be kept? If put in the same room with other inmates and something happens, then what?

It is very possible that the family may suffer more than the inmate does (after coming to terms with his/her sentence). In all cases where someone is in prison, it isn't just the inmate who is affected - but many more people are as well. Those who did wrong must pay. It's just too bad that the families involved pay right along with the inmate. No prison reforms can ever conquer that problem. That's life in this imperfect world.

Personally, I am against the death penalty. I am in favor of certain people spending the rest of their lives in prison because they can not be trusted to be living in society. My feeling is that it's up to God to decide when a person dies and it isn't up to the State to make that decision. Besides, what punishment is it to put a person to death? If he isn't alive, then he isn't being punished! Just my opinion.

dolphina · #9 10-13-2005, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc's Sis

Death Row is segregation and they have fewer perks. Probably segregated because they committed a horrible crime (murder) and can't be trusted to live in dorm like settings. NO, not all of them will hurt anyone else, but there is no guarantee of that. If the jury decides that is where they need to be, then that's where they are kept. It's up to the jury after they study the facts of the case. IF they consider the person to be dangerous, where should they be kept? If put in the same room with other inmates and something happens, then what?

How can you say that? What about those who are innocent on Death Row?

Just Me 1973 · #10 10-13-2005, 10:49 AM

The jury does decide they are unfit to live. When found guilty of the court of law the system doesn't know who is rightfully there or not. So, the innocents get the same treatment as the guilty ones. I think that most people agree on one thing as far as the death penalty goes - innocencts should not be on death row. Period. But "mistakes" (ahem) happens...

As for what's the difference between a life sentence and death row... well... life and death.

RegisSweetness · #11 10-13-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc's Sis

Death Row is segregation and they have fewer perks. Probably segregated because they committed a horrible crime (murder) and can't be trusted to live in dorm like settings. NO, not all of them will hurt anyone else, but there is no guarantee of that. If the jury decides that is where they need to be, then that's where they are kept. It's up to the jury after they study the facts of the case. IF they consider the person to be dangerous, where should they be kept? If put in the same room with other inmates and something happens, then what?

i think thats very foul to say!!! you dont have to be on death row to be unfit for society. lifers arent in prison for being church angels ya know! most of them did horrible things too or else they wouldnt be in prison for life. so dont say that death row inmates deserve to be segregated. some lifers are tapped in the head too just as some are innocent in both scenarios. and i think its unfair that 2 people can commit the same crime, but one may get the death penalty and one may get life. its not fair!! my question was asking what was the difference between the 2 other than execution, not why should one be segregated and not the other.

Danip · #12 10-21-2005, 01:33 AM

[quote=Doc's Sis]Death Row is segregation and they have fewer perks. Probably segregated because they committed a horrible crime (murder) and can't be trusted to live in dorm like settings. NO, not all of them will hurt anyone else, but there is no guarantee of that. If the jury decides that is where they need to be, then that's where they are kept. It's up to the jury after they study the facts of the case. IF they consider the person to be dangerous, where should they be kept? If put in the same room with other inmates and something happens, then what?

It is very possible that the family may suffer more than the inmate does (after coming to terms with his/her sentence). In all cases where someone is in prison, it isn't just the inmate who is affected - but many more people are as well. Those who did wrong must pay. It's just too bad that the families involved pay right along with the inmate. No prison reforms can ever conquer that problem. That's life in this imperfect world.

Wow. What a nasty post. I can't believe this junk dude...

I don't really know what the difference is between a lifer and a death row inmate other than execution. I mean, both are in for a long period of time (some DR inmates stay in for more than 5-10 years) yet they get different sentences. I don't get why DR is segregated, it's a weird policy and it sucks.

qwerty · #13 10-21-2005, 01:46 AM

I agree, that post was harsh. Lifers and most others don't live in "dorm like settings" either,here in Cali only level ones live in dorms.

I honestly can't see why some guys are on death row and others are not... it is not fair. The DP is not fair period.

But back to the start of this thread, I think the real difference between lifers and DR is psychological. In reality, my guy may never get out, but there is always the hope, the thought that it could happen. I am older than him so I probably won't see the day but it gives me comfort that he might.

You are also right that DR has better appeals attorneys and in fact my guy has no right to appeal ever because he took a plea.

I guess in the end we have a lot in common. We should hang out more!

Still my heart goes out to y'all because you are put to an even tougher test... people always drop in and tell us lifer ladies how 'strong' and 'brave' we are, but I say everything is relative.

Y'all here are the best. Big props to the people with the biggest hearts ever. :love:

jude · #14 10-21-2005, 04:32 AM

Here in Illinois, where the Gov gave all those who were on the Row, in 2003, clemency, they now have Life without parole, which also means they are not eligible for an attorney. There are innocent people who were on Death Row, but are now held "At the Gov's pleasure" so they are told.
As for the comments about having done horrible things, there are a good few inmates that have done far more and did not get put on the Row! A survey revealed that if an inmate admitted he had done it, or showed remorse at his trial then he rarely got put on the row. Tell me, how then would those who were innocent go about in a court room? They cannot show remorse, because they did not do the crime, so they ended up on the Row and now their sentence is commutted, they have no attorney and LifeWithout Parole!!! How fair is that? It is a living Death, while the person who actually did committ the crime is still out on the streets,free to committ murder again.
Jude

Xenia_Marquard · #15 10-21-2005, 05:06 AM

My fiancee's codefendant agreed to a plea bargain, admitted the crime and had his death sentence reduced to life, with parole after 25 years. My fiancee was given the same choice, but refused as he didn't want to admit to a crime he knows he didn't do. He is still on the row...

jude · #16 10-21-2005, 05:14 AM

How long has he been on the Row Xenia?

Xenia_Marquard · #17 10-21-2005, 05:18 AM

14 years

queentina · #18 10-21-2005, 08:26 AM

there are a lot of differences, try texas for example. in november alone texas will kill 6 men. up until execution they are in solitary confinedment. my friend is a nurse at polunski, she says she would turn her back to a death row inmate any day before she would a lifer. death row inmates are not the worst of the worst, they are the poorest of the poor, they are young and the majority do not have a criminal record. some have been executed or will be executed under the "party to" law. they didn't kill anyone, but they were there. and here at execution central it is very rarely we wait over 10 yrs to execute... in fact lately they have waited only 8 to 9 years. what you are describing in cali sounds like a paradise. (not to minimize anything.) come to texas.....8 years is even a long time to wait, but not long enough to find someone to measure your life and deem it worthy. "lifers" have all the time in the world to plead and prove thier case, row inmates have a deadline to beat.

qwerty · #19 10-21-2005, 11:04 AM

You are so right queentina... as far as who they are, there is no difference between lifers and those on DR! The difference is decided by lawyers, juries and politicians and has nothing to with their character or the crime. They threatened my guy with death, and it could have easily swung that way in another county, another state.

Sadly, here in Cali they are starting to speed things up, too. 3 guys now have dates in the next few months...

JJsPenPal · #20 10-24-2005, 10:54 PM

In California, lifers get contact visits in an open room and death row inmates have contact visits in cages(the guests are locked in the cage too). Lifers get cellies and DR inmates don't.

jlsjr4ever · #21 10-25-2005, 12:13 PM

lifers do get visits here in NC my bro is a lifer and i get to see him once a week ..contact visits unless he gets in trouble.....it depends on the state and the facility they are at....

angela

DaveMoff · #22 10-25-2005, 09:26 PM

There are plenty of people in prison because they believed poor-quality attorneys who told them to plead guilty to some "lesser" offense under the threat of being convicted of some greater crime, whether they committed it or not (court-appointed attorneys are notorious for this--they don't defend anyone, just accept the first plea bargain offered by the prosecution). And I imagine there are a number of people serving long sentences--and yes, on Death Row--because they stood on their innocence and hoped to find integrity in the justice system. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

I would like to HOPE that the vast majority of people in prison are there for a good reason, that their cases received a fair hearing, and that their sentences are no excessive. Personal contact with any number of present and former inmates informs me that this is not remotely close to being the reality.

And when the matter in question in someone's life....? Don't even get me started.

Eternal Hope · #23 10-26-2005, 01:21 AM

In GA, lifers get weekly contact visits, across a table from you, in large open room with other inmates and their families. No conjugal visits mind you, but contact yes.

witchypoo · #24 10-26-2005, 09:45 AM

I think being sentenced to death and waking up every morning wondering if to day some one is going to kill you in a few days is torture, I have said on previous threads that I dont understand your systems, From what ive read the main difference is a psycological one, with a sentence of life you know what to expect with the sentence of death , you dont know where or when , then one by one they take your friends and murder them, while you sit and wonder when it will be your turn.

I think anyone in prison who gets " nookie" visits is lucky.

I think the reasons some one is in prison should be looked into

is it punishment or protection for the public? if its for punishment then i think no visits where any sexual acts should take place.

but if some one is in prison because they are a risk to others then I think those kinds of visits would be a good thing.

maybe in time i will get to know how your system works.

Waitn4mymail · #25 10-31-2005, 01:04 PM

[quote=Doc's Sis]Death Row is segregation and they have fewer perks. Probably segregated because they committed a horrible crime (murder) and can't be trusted to live in dorm like settings. NO, not all of them will hurt anyone else, but there is no guarantee of that. If the jury decides that is where they need to be, then that's where they are kept. It's up to the jury after they study the facts of the case. IF they consider the person to be dangerous, where should they be kept? If put in the same room with other inmates and something happens, then what?

I think maybe you should do a little bit of research on prison gangs. I would hope you would see how wrong that statement is about d/r inmates being more dangerous. Those inmates are everybit as dangerous as my pal on d/r and many of them have a much higher potential for violence yet they aren't on lockdown. Sorry but I believe the lockdowns on deathrow are just another way to break down an inmate's psyche.