Thursday, September 22, 2011

No More Choosing Last Meal

This is sensible.

Texas death row inmates will no longer be permitted to choose the menu for their last meal.

The decision came after state Sen. John Whitmire took issue with the meal ordered by Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed Wednesday for the infamous dragging death of James Byrd Jr., a black man from East Texas.

Whitmire said he has always disapproved of catering to inmates, but this case seemed especially outrageous. On Thursday, he called the director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and followed up with a letter, recounting Brewer's meal choice of two chicken fried steaks, a triple meat bacon cheeseburger, a cheese omelet, a large bowl of fried okra, three fajitas, a pint of Blue Bell ice cream, and a pound of barbecue with a half loaf of white bread.

TDCJ Executive Director Brad Livingston responded: "I believe Senator Whitmire's concerns regarding the practice of allowing death row offenders to choose their last meal are valid. Effective immediately, no such accommodations will be made. They will receive the same meal served to other offenders on the unit."

[...]

"No death-row inmate prior to execution should be catered to," he said. "It's just common sense."

As for Brewer's last meal, Whitmire said it was an act of manipulation. Prison officials reported he ate none of it.

(9) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1811 hrs
Law + Politics + Politics - Texas

  1. Why is it sensible?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 0715 hrs


  2. Yeah that sure is understandable.  Given the number of people the state of Texas executes it could raise a state budget deficit! Maybe they can shorten all these trials and legal rig-a marole just execute them on their way out of the court room.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 0738 hrs


  3. Not to mention it so admirable that we rank right up there with China, North Korea and Yemen in our number of executions while most of the civilized countries of the world abandoned the practice a long time ago.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 0740 hrs


  4. Seems kind of petty.    It also diminishes the ceremonial aspects of execution, which its’ advocates would argue is part of the deterrent value of execution.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 0805 hrs


  5. It is also incorrect.  Texas did not provide that meal to the prisoner, he just requested it.  I am curious about why Owen thinks that it is sensible.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 1034 hrs


  6. Amazing how Christians can compartmentalize their beliefs to justify state sanctioned killing.  The Onion nails it: http://www.theonion.com/articles/god-angrily-clarifies-dont-kill-rule,222/

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 1446 hrs


  7. Saddam and Osama thank you for your opinion.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 1512 hrs


  8. I demand faster executions and if liberals protest, put THEM in the cells with these vermin.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2011 at 1912 hrs


  9. I think last meals where meant to represent societies compassion and forgiveness even at a moment like that.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 25, 2011 at 1455 hrs


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