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Death Row Confinement and the Meaning of Last Words

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Johnson

    (Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20016, USA)

  • Laura Caitlin Kanewske

    (Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20016, USA)

  • Maya Barak

    (Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20016, USA)

Abstract

Life under sentence of death can be a transformative process. One measure of this transformation can be found in last words, which often highlight the humanity of condemned prisoners on the threshold of execution, in sharp contrast to popular conceptions of these prisoners as evil, remorseless, and irredeemable. Our reading of last words suggests that the transformation process can be best understood by examining the dominant contours of the death row experience, the most recent formative experience in the lives of condemned prisoners before they are put to death.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Johnson & Laura Caitlin Kanewske & Maya Barak, 2014. "Death Row Confinement and the Meaning of Last Words," Laws, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlawss:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:141-152:d:33004
    as

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