Writing for Their Lives

Marie Mulvey-Roberts is a Reader in Literary Studies in the School of English and Drama at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She has taught in a number of prisons in the United Kingdom. Jan Arriens is the founder of LifeLines, an international organization of correspondents who exchange letters with death row prisoners.

• Foreword Jan Arriens XVAcknowledgments xviiIntroduction: Death Sentences by Marie Mulvey-Roberts 11. ESSAYS AND SPEECHES ON THE DEATH PENALTYI Will Not Stand for It Governor George Ryan 17America Does Not Need Capital Punishment Michael B. Ross 25My Turn William Van Poyck 27The Ring Decision and What It Means Richard Rossi 29Is There Such a Thing as Closure? Richard Rossi 31Not in My Name Celeste Dixon 34The Electric Chair and the Chain Gang: Choices and Challenges for America's Future Stephen B. Bright 392. ACCOUNTS OF LIFE ON DEATH ROWWorking Against the Death Penalty Marie Deans 59Daily Events Richard Rossi 63Running In: Cell Extraction Hank Skinner 65Conditions on Death Row, Terrell Unit, Texas Dr. Terry Kupers 69California's Death Row Michael Wayne Hunter 78It's Time for Me to Die: An Inside Look at Death Row Michael B. Ross 91Dave Michael Wayne Hunter 103A Visit from Mom Martin A. Draughton 106Skirting the Rules Richard Rossi 112Scars Jarvis Masters 113Transcending Martin A. Draughton 1183. EXECUTIONChanging the Protocol Richard Rossi 123Capital Accountability Roger W. Murray II 126Surviving an Execution Date Dominique Malon with Sam Hawkins 131The Dog and Pony Show Richard Rossi 137The Long Walk Don Hawkins 140Inside the Death Chamber Stacy Abramson and David Isay 145The Struggle for a Spirituality: Nicholas Ingram's Life, Final Days, and Execution Sister Ruth Evans 154Witnessing an Execution Erika Trueman 1634. POEMSRecipe for Prison Pruno Jarvis Masters 177So Many Times Mark Robertson 179To Be Seen, To Be Done Benjamin Zephaniah 180Death Row Lament James Heard 181You Are In Karl Louis Guillen 181Capital Existence James Heard 182My God Karl Louis Guillen 182Living Death Kevin Brian Dowling 183Oblique Sojourn Leroy D. Cropper 184The Dungeon Karl Louis Guillen 184Red Man Shoz Dijiji 185Come Back to Me Keith B. Taylor 186Journey to Nowhere Ramon Rogers 187Beyond the Ceiling Karl Louis Guillen 188This Horror Karl Louis Guillen 189A "Not So Bad" Man Karl Louis Guillen 189Falling In Karl Louis Guillen 190When It's at Your Door Mark Allen Robertson 191I Drew a Chessboard on My Bed James Heard 194Find Out What You Seek Tracy A. Hansen 195A Mental Mirage Marion Wilson 195A Special Friend Tracy A. Hansen 196For You Joan Warren 197I Think I'll Call It Morning James Heard 198Look into the Darkness William (Bill) Clark 199Trying to Describe Martin A. Draughton 200Before I Forget Karl Louis Guillen 200My Poem Karl Louis Guillen 201Death Row Poets U. A. Fanthorpe 201Executioner James Armando Card Sr. 202The Wuornos Protocol - The Final Solution John Huggins 203Nicky Sister Ruth Evans 204Knowing the Day Rogelio Reyes Cannady 205Our Disgrace... Karl Louis Guillen 206You Hide Where You Can't Tracy A. Hansen 207Words That I Hear Edwin Smith 207My Final Prayer Ray "Running Bear" Allen 2095. SHORT STORIESA Day in the Life Michael Wayne Hunter 213Cat J Michael Wayne Hunter 216Fake Identity William Van Poyck 222Burnt Almonds Steven King Ainsworth 2336. INTERVIEWING PRISONERSInterview with Mumia Abu-Jamal Allen Houghland 239Prisoner Interviewing Prisoner Martin A. Draughton 2447. CORRESPONDENCE, JOURNALS, AND A PRISON REPORTFrom Convent to Prison: A Correspondence Sister RUth Evans 255When and Where Will It End? William (Bill) Clark 258Open Letter from Idaho's Only Female Death Row Prisoner Robin Lee Row 260Journal from Death Row Mississippi Tracy A. Hansen 269Prison Madness in Mississippi Dr. Terry Kupers  281An American Chronicle Rogelio Reyes Cannady 288Being Rushed to Death Richard Rossi 294Scrappers: Giving In to Life Sister Helen Prejean 298Organizations and Prison Writing Web Sites 301Further Reading 305Filmography 308Reading for Their Lives Projects 310

"The madness of Death Row in the USA is described in graphic detail in this collection of testimonies, short stories, and poems. . . . Most do not question either their guilt or their fate, accepting their lot with resignation. Very few books have the power to change the world. This book is unlikely to be the exception. And for that we should all be very sorry indeed." Tribune “Nobody who reads this book will put it down unaffected. . . . Mulvey-Roberts has drawn together an astonishing collection of writings and speeches which will shock, shake and warn. . . . A powerful tool to help contribute to the sentimentality against the punishment.  She has displayed that the pen is mightier than the sword.”--Amicus Journal "A refreshing emphasis on dignity and humanity in the face of terror and evil."--Rick Halperin, Amnesty International USA