[Drango]

Essentially a contract, the decree guarantees condemned prisoners an opportunity to venture out of their cells to an exercise yard for about five hours each day An instructor from San Quentin's Education Department teaches high school course through a cell-study program. An arts & crafts program is included in the decree. Condemned prisoners have entered art competitions and won prizes in many medium.

I'm gonna barf...But I may calm myself by googling a picture of the child killer, Richard Allen Davis, just after his conviction for killing Polly Klass, flick everyone off with the bird.

[martin_fierro]

I answer every letter even if the writer is rapidly pro-death penalty.

I'm slowly pro-death penalty.

[45Auto]

"In the abstract, the death penalty has an elegant Newtonian -- for every action there is an opposite reaction -- symmetry that easy harmonizes with the Old Testament -- eye for an eye -- overtone which strikes a reassuring resonance within a majority of citizens."

No kidding. Not to mention the rewarding feeling that another piece of human trash has been removed, never to have the chance to kill again.

The last guy removed thusly in California was in 1996:

William George Bonin The Freeway Killer

William Bonin kidnapped, robbed, raped, tortured, and killed 21 teenaged boys; he was ultimately convicted of 14 murders in two separate trials. In 1972, Bonin was officially declared disabled. The Vietnam veteran claimed to be unable to work, due to severe mental illness. So the government began sending him a monthly check for about $500. Then in 1982, Bonin was tried and convicted of the rape, torture, and murder of 10 young men in Southern California. But the wheels of justice turn slowly, and it wouldn't be until 1996 that Bonin was finally executed.

During those intervening 14 years, the government mistakenly continued to send disability checks after Bonin's multiple homicide conviction. The Social Security Administration mailed a total of $79,424 in assistance to his last known address -- his mother's house in Downey, California. She used the money to pay off her mortgage. None of this came to light before the execution. After the error was discovered, the family agreed to repay the government.

In 1979, Bonin began murdering young male hitchhikers and dumping their bodies around the Southern California freeway system. He had some accomplices, who ultimately informed on him. Bonin's defense attorney was Earl Hanson, who had previously defended John Holmes during the Wonderland murder trial.

On February 23, 1996 William Bonin was the first person California put to death by Lethal Injection. His last meal had included two pepperoni and sausage pizzas, three servings of coffee ice cream, and fifteen cans (5.3 liters) of Coca-Cola. It can safely be assumed that Bonin was either a huge Coke drinker, or he just needed 500mg of caffeine to make the most of his final hours... which he spent watching Jeopardy.

[jwalsh07]

Long and somewhat arduous, baby killers are the bottom of the heap, even on death row.

[jwalsh07]

Interesting read, thousands of words and not word one about the victims. Sociopaths don't get cured. They get smarter, more dangerous and wiser in the ways of preying on the weak but they never get cured.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

What will death row be like for Peterson?

With any luck:

[sevry]

elegant Newtonian -- for every action there is an opposite reaction

Not simply revenge - Justice. That's what it is. Appropriate. Fair. Just.

But people are saying that this is just the beginning, not the end of it. They conservatively estimate the appeals will cost as much or more than the trial to date, which has cost millions, and that it will stretch out for years. At least it'll give the FOX and CNN and NBC crews some more live stand-ups shots in the tents. Full employment.

[berkeleybeej]

http://www.queenwords.com/lyrics/songs/sng11_02.shtml

Radio talk show host, Ken Hamblin liked this one.

[jackbill]

Peterson won't die in my lifetime. Tonight, I heard that he will join over 600 people on California's death row.

Consider how much time and effort it will take to reduce the line to where Peterson is up front.

Perhaps California's death row needs a MOAB.

[Lucky2]

I get the feeling this girly-man is going to be someone's girl friend in short order. Hopefully he'll do himself in like some of his would have been neighbors have done. I hope he pays and pays for his crime.

[agitator]

What would be worse than death row would be life in prison forced to watch daily reruns of the Greta Van Peterson coverage of his trial.

[bayourod]

I've visited several people on death row in Texas. They can't come to the visiting room so I had to go back to their cell block. They have no contact with other inmates. They are let out into a small recreation area one at a time for exercise a couple times a week.

[muir_redwoods]

ping

[humblegunner]

even if the writer is rapidly pro-death penalty

Is that when they execute them right away? ;-)

[Polyxene]

I am thinking that there is a shiv with Peterson's name on it just waiting for him at San Quentin. I am sure he will be quite popular.