NCJ Number
113645
Date Published
1988
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of recent litigation on the constitutionality of death row living conditions across the United States.
Abstract
Ruiz v. Estelle (Fifth Circuit Court, 1982) and Groseclose v. Dutton (Sixth Circuit Court, 1986) are landmarks in death row litigation. 'Ruiz' was the first settlement of a death row case that materially altered the basic correctional approach to managing death row inmates. 'Groseclose' is the first instance of full judicial intervention on behalf of death row inmates. A review of death row conditions across the United States reveals that not all death rows are equally oppressive. In Texas and California, for example, conditions are reasonably humane, largely due to provisions for meaningful out-of-cell time and opportunities for contact visitation with family and friends. In other States, such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, conditions are needlessly harsh and cruel. Security classification systems for death row inmates have increased the flexibility of death row inmate management. If the current trend continues, the death rows of the future will be relatively humane. 63 notes, case index, name index, subject index.