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“This inmate declined to make a last statement”: A Quantitative Exploration of the Determinants of Inmate Execution Final Statements in Texas, 1982-2022

Year 2024, Volume: 28 Issue: 3, 293 - 299, 20.09.2024
https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1417026

Abstract

The last two decades have witnessed a significant growth in the volume of academic work exploring the final statements of inmates executed in the United States of America. While this has done much to advance academic understanding of final statements, comparably little attention has been paid to the not-insignificant number of inmates who decline to speak prior to their execution. The article presents the results of a regression analysis of a 574-case data set covering all executions conducted in Texas between December 1982 and April 2022. Despite including a range of variables, analysis identified only a single significant result: the presence of victims' family and/or close friends. The significance of this finding for existing scholarship and practice is discussed, alongside possible directions for future research.

Project Number

N/A

References

  • Abu-Jamal, M. (1996). Live From Death Row. Harper Perennia
  • Arriens, J. (2004). Welcome to Hell: Letters and Writings from Death Row. Northeastern University Press.
  • Cooney, M., & Phillips, S. (2013). With God on one’s side: The social geometry of death row apologies. Sociological Forum, 28(1), 159–178.
  • Dicks, S. (2013). Death Row: Interviews with Inmates, Their Families and Opponents of Capital Punishment. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co Inc.
  • Eaton, J. (2014). Honor on death row: Apology, remorse, and the culture of honor in the U.S. South. Sage Open. April-June, 1-9.
  • Eaton, J., & Theuer, A. (2009). Apology and remorse in the last statements of death row prisoners. Justice Quarterly, 26(2), 327–347.
  • Foley, S. R., & Kelly, B. D. (2007). The psychological concomitants of capital punishment: Thematic analysis of last statements from death row. American Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 28(4), 7–14.
  • Foley, S. R., & Kelly, B. D. (2018). Forgiveness, spirituality and love: Thematic analysis of last statements from death row. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 1–5.
  • Goranson, A., Ritter, R. S., Waytz, A., Norton, M. I., & Gray, K. (2017). Dying is unexpectedly positive. Psychological Science, 28(7), 988–999.
  • Handelman, L. D., & Lester, D. (2007). The content of suicide notes from attempters and completers. Crisis, 28, 102–104.
  • Heflick, N. A. (2005). Sentenced to die: Last statements and dying on death row. Omega, 51(4), 323–336.
  • Hirschmüller, S., & Egloff, B. (2016). Positive emotional language in the final words spoken directly before execution. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1–9. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01985
  • James, T. (2022) Death & Defiance: A Qualitative Exploration of Final Statements from People on Death Row. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation
  • Johnson, R. (2013) A few words on the last words of condemned prisoners. Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, 22(1), 112–121.
  • Johnson, R., Kanewske, L. C. & Barak, M. (2014) Death Row confinement and the meaning of last words. Laws, 3(1), 141-152.
  • Kashdan, T. B., DeWall, C. N., Schurtz, D. R., Deckman, T., Lykins, E. L. B., Evans, D. R., McKenzie, J., Segerstrom, S. C., Gailliot, M. T., & Brown, K. W. (2014). More than words: Contemplating death enhances positive emotional word use. Personality and Individual Differences, 71, 171–175.
  • Kelly, B. D., & Foley, S. R. (2013). Love, spirituality and regret: Thematic analysis of last statements from death row, Texas (2006-11). The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 41, 540–550.
  • Kelly, B. D., & Foley, S. R. (2018). Analysis of last statements prior to execution: Methods, themes and future directions. QJM: International Journal of Medicine, 111(1), 3–6.
  • Lester, D., & Gunn, J. F. (2013). Ethnic differences in the statements made by inmates about to be executed in Texas. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 11, 1–7. Owens-Murphy, K. (2023). Ghosts Over the Boiler: Voices from Alabama's Death Row. Vanderbilt University Press
  • Rice, S. K., Dirks, D., & Exline, J. J. (2009). Of guilt, defiance, and repentance: Evidence from the Texas death chamber. Justice Quarterly, 26(2), 295–326.
  • Ross Meyer, L. (2011). ‘The meaning of death: Last words, last meals’ in Austin. In Sarat, & K. Shoemaker (Eds.), Who deserves to die: Constructing the executable subject (pp. 176–206). University of Massachusetts Press.
  • Rossi, R. M. (2004). Waiting to Die: Life on Death Row. Vision Paperbacks.
  • Schuck, A. R. T., & Ward, J. (2008). Dealing with the inevitable: Strategies for self-preservation and meaning construction in the final statements of inmates on Texas death row. Discourse & Society, 19(1), 43–62.
  • Upton, M. A., Carwile, T. M., & Brown, K. S. (2017). In their own words: A qualitative exploration of last statements of capital punishment inmates in the state of Missouri, 1995-2011. Omega, 75(4), 376–394.
  • Vollum, S. (2008). Last words and the death penalty: Voices of the condemned and their co-victims. LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC.
  • Vollum, S., & Longmire, D. R. (2009). Giving voice to the dead: Last statements of the condemned. Contemporary Justice Review, 12(1), 5–26.
  • Walliss, J. (2022) ‘Last meals and final statements: Social science research on America's death row’, Sociology Compass, 16(7).

“This inmate declined to make a last statement”: A Quantitative Exploration of the Determinants of Inmate Execution Final Statements in Texas, 1982-2022

Year 2024, Volume: 28 Issue: 3, 293 - 299, 20.09.2024
https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1417026

Abstract

Dr John Walliss is senior lecturer in Criminology in the School of Law and Criminology, Liverpool Hope University, UK

Assoc Prof Mark Littler is associate professor in the School of Law and Criminology, Liverpool Hope University, UK

Ethical Statement

approved by Law & Criminology ethics board

Supporting Institution

Liverpool Hope University

Project Number

N/A

Thanks

N/A

References

  • Abu-Jamal, M. (1996). Live From Death Row. Harper Perennia
  • Arriens, J. (2004). Welcome to Hell: Letters and Writings from Death Row. Northeastern University Press.
  • Cooney, M., & Phillips, S. (2013). With God on one’s side: The social geometry of death row apologies. Sociological Forum, 28(1), 159–178.
  • Dicks, S. (2013). Death Row: Interviews with Inmates, Their Families and Opponents of Capital Punishment. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co Inc.
  • Eaton, J. (2014). Honor on death row: Apology, remorse, and the culture of honor in the U.S. South. Sage Open. April-June, 1-9.
  • Eaton, J., & Theuer, A. (2009). Apology and remorse in the last statements of death row prisoners. Justice Quarterly, 26(2), 327–347.
  • Foley, S. R., & Kelly, B. D. (2007). The psychological concomitants of capital punishment: Thematic analysis of last statements from death row. American Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 28(4), 7–14.
  • Foley, S. R., & Kelly, B. D. (2018). Forgiveness, spirituality and love: Thematic analysis of last statements from death row. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 1–5.
  • Goranson, A., Ritter, R. S., Waytz, A., Norton, M. I., & Gray, K. (2017). Dying is unexpectedly positive. Psychological Science, 28(7), 988–999.
  • Handelman, L. D., & Lester, D. (2007). The content of suicide notes from attempters and completers. Crisis, 28, 102–104.
  • Heflick, N. A. (2005). Sentenced to die: Last statements and dying on death row. Omega, 51(4), 323–336.
  • Hirschmüller, S., & Egloff, B. (2016). Positive emotional language in the final words spoken directly before execution. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1–9. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01985
  • James, T. (2022) Death & Defiance: A Qualitative Exploration of Final Statements from People on Death Row. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation
  • Johnson, R. (2013) A few words on the last words of condemned prisoners. Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, 22(1), 112–121.
  • Johnson, R., Kanewske, L. C. & Barak, M. (2014) Death Row confinement and the meaning of last words. Laws, 3(1), 141-152.
  • Kashdan, T. B., DeWall, C. N., Schurtz, D. R., Deckman, T., Lykins, E. L. B., Evans, D. R., McKenzie, J., Segerstrom, S. C., Gailliot, M. T., & Brown, K. W. (2014). More than words: Contemplating death enhances positive emotional word use. Personality and Individual Differences, 71, 171–175.
  • Kelly, B. D., & Foley, S. R. (2013). Love, spirituality and regret: Thematic analysis of last statements from death row, Texas (2006-11). The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 41, 540–550.
  • Kelly, B. D., & Foley, S. R. (2018). Analysis of last statements prior to execution: Methods, themes and future directions. QJM: International Journal of Medicine, 111(1), 3–6.
  • Lester, D., & Gunn, J. F. (2013). Ethnic differences in the statements made by inmates about to be executed in Texas. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 11, 1–7. Owens-Murphy, K. (2023). Ghosts Over the Boiler: Voices from Alabama's Death Row. Vanderbilt University Press
  • Rice, S. K., Dirks, D., & Exline, J. J. (2009). Of guilt, defiance, and repentance: Evidence from the Texas death chamber. Justice Quarterly, 26(2), 295–326.
  • Ross Meyer, L. (2011). ‘The meaning of death: Last words, last meals’ in Austin. In Sarat, & K. Shoemaker (Eds.), Who deserves to die: Constructing the executable subject (pp. 176–206). University of Massachusetts Press.
  • Rossi, R. M. (2004). Waiting to Die: Life on Death Row. Vision Paperbacks.
  • Schuck, A. R. T., & Ward, J. (2008). Dealing with the inevitable: Strategies for self-preservation and meaning construction in the final statements of inmates on Texas death row. Discourse & Society, 19(1), 43–62.
  • Upton, M. A., Carwile, T. M., & Brown, K. S. (2017). In their own words: A qualitative exploration of last statements of capital punishment inmates in the state of Missouri, 1995-2011. Omega, 75(4), 376–394.
  • Vollum, S. (2008). Last words and the death penalty: Voices of the condemned and their co-victims. LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC.
  • Vollum, S., & Longmire, D. R. (2009). Giving voice to the dead: Last statements of the condemned. Contemporary Justice Review, 12(1), 5–26.
  • Walliss, J. (2022) ‘Last meals and final statements: Social science research on America's death row’, Sociology Compass, 16(7).
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Social Work (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Mark Littler This is me

John Walliss

Project Number N/A
Publication Date September 20, 2024
Submission Date January 10, 2024
Acceptance Date June 28, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 28 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Littler, M., & Walliss, J. (2024). “This inmate declined to make a last statement”: A Quantitative Exploration of the Determinants of Inmate Execution Final Statements in Texas, 1982-2022. Current Perspectives in Social Sciences, 28(3), 293-299. https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1417026

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