Texas stops giving "last meals" before they murder people

[Princess Luna]

HOUSTON (AP) — It's a tradition with roots that can be traced far back in history: Before being put to death, a condemned prisoner can choose his last meal.
Not so anymore in Texas.
Officials who oversee the country's busiest death chamber stopped the practice on Thursday after a prominent state senator complained about a hefty request from a man executed for his role in a notorious dragging death. Now, inmates get to eat only what the kitchen serves.
The controversy began after Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed on Wednesday for the hate crime slaying of James Byrd Jr. more than a decade ago, asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover's pizza, a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts. Prison officials said Brewer didn't eat any of it.
"It is extremely inappropriate to give a person sentenced to death such a privilege," Sen. John Whitmire, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, wrote in a letter Thursday to Brad Livingston, the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Within hours, Livingston said the senator's concerns were valid and the practice of allowing death row offenders to choose their final meal was history.
"Effective immediately, no such accommodations will be made," Livingston said. "They will receive the same meal served to other offenders on the unit."
That had been the suggestion from Whitmire, who called the traditional request "ridiculous."
"It's long overdue," the Houston Democrat told The Associated Press. "This old boy last night, enough is enough. We're fixing to execute the guy and maybe it makes the system feel good about what they're fixing to do. Kind of hypocritical, you reckon?
"Mr. Byrd didn't get to choose his last meal. The whole deal is so illogical."
Brewer, a white supremacist gang member, was convicted of chaining Byrd, 49, to the back of a pickup truck and dragging him to his death along a bumpy road in a case shocked the nation for its brutality.
It was not immediately clear whether other states have made similar moves. Some limit the final meal cost — Florida's ceiling is $40, according to the Department of Corrections website, with food to be purchased locally. Others, like Texas, which never had a designated dollar limit, mandate meals be prison-made. Some states don't acknowledge final meals, and others will disclose the information only if the inmate agrees, said K. William Hayes, a Florida-based death penalty historian.
Some states require the meal within a specific time period, allow multiple "final" meals, restrict it to one or impose "a vast number of conditions," he said.
Historical references to a condemned person's last meal go as far back as ancient Greece, China and Rome, Hayes said. Some of it is apparently rooted in superstition about meals warding off possible haunting by condemned people once they are put to death.
The Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington-based anti-capital punishment organization that collects execution statistics, said it had no data on final meals.
Since Texas resumed carrying out executions in 1982, the state correction agency's practice has been to fill a condemned inmate's request as long as the items, or food similar to what was requested, were readily available from the prison kitchen supplies.
While extensive, Brewer's request was far from the largest or most bizarre among the 475 Texas inmates put to death.
On Tuesday, prisoner Cleve Foster's request included two fried chickens, French fries and a five-gallon bucket of peaches. He received a reprieve from the U.S. Supreme Court but none of his requested meal. He was on his way back to death row, at a prison about 45 miles east of Huntsville, at the time when his feast would have been served.
Last week, inmate Steven Woods' request included two pounds of bacon, a large four-meat pizza, four fried chicken breasts, two drinks each of Mountain Dew, Pepsi, root beer and sweet tea, two pints of ice cream, five chicken fried steaks, two hamburgers with bacon, fries and a dozen garlic bread sticks with marinara on the side. Two hours later, he was executed.
Years ago, a Texas inmate even requested dirt for his final meal.
Until 2003, the Texas prison system listed final meals of each prisoner as part of its death row website. That stopped at 313 final meals after officials said they received complaints from people who found it offensive.
A former inmate cook who made the last meals for prisoners at the Huntsville Unit, where Texas executions are carried out, wrote a cookbook several years ago after he was released. Among his recipes were Gallows Gravy, Rice Rigor Mortis and Old Sparky's Genuine Convict Chili, a nod to the electric chair that once served as the execution method. The book was called Meals to Die For."

source (http://news.yahoo.com/texas-prisons-end-special-last-meals-executions-195102056.html)

[thefinalmarch]

What kind of screwed up budget cut is this?

[Nox]

What kind of screwed up budget cut is this?

It's ridiculous, and it will probably save no more than a few thousand dollars per year :rolleyes:

[KurtFF8]

The controversy began after Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed on Wednesday for the hate crime slaying of James Byrd Jr. more than a decade ago, asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover's pizza, a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts. Prison officials said Brewer didn't eat any of it.

Oh dear

[Princess Luna]

It's ridiculous, and it will probably save no more than a few thousand dollars per year :rolleyes:
Which I am sure prison wardens will celebrate by giving themselve a nice fat bonus.

[Nox]

The controversy began after Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed on Wednesday for the hate crime slaying of James Byrd Jr. more than a decade ago, asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover's pizza, a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts.

If I ever was to have a 'last meal', I would have the same as him except every word would be McDonald's.

[o well this is ok I guess]

Doesn't anyone else find that cookbook somewhat disturbing

[socialistjustin]

Are they trying to compete with Arizona for most hated state in the country? Seriously wtf?

[piet11111]

I would probably ask for a 3x big steak with a lot of french fries and 2 sixpacks of duvel but i doubt alcohol is allowed even for a last meal.
This would be much more then i could actually finish but i would hate to actually have some space left before going out.

This whole tough on crime nonsense is ridiculous though and as a budget cut its just bullshit.

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

Point of order. I'd like to propose that the first order of business after the revolution be renaming "Texas" to "Hell" and every Governor there-of "Shithead J. Idiot" and a respective numeral for order of precedence.

[StoneFrog]

Kinda sickening to take that away, you killing them ffs.

Im surprised more don't go for the fugu fish dish, expensive and you gonna die either way.

[Nox]

In 1998, white supremacist gang member Brewer, 44, dragged a black man chained to the back of a pick-up truck along a road until he died.


The controversy began after Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed on Wednesday for the hate crime slaying of James Byrd Jr. more than a decade ago, asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover's pizza, a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts. Prison officials said Brewer didn't eat any of it.

So, he was a racist who thought it'd be fun to kill a black person, and then thought it'd be fun to have a ridiculous last meal and not eat it, and cause Texans on death row from now on to be unable to have a last meal.

That guy is the definition of an asshole.

[Delenda Carthago]

It's ridiculous, and it will probably save no more than a few thousand dollars per year :rolleyes:
Τhousand dollars? How many people are executed every year??????

[Nox]

Τhousand dollars? How many people are executed every year??????

I'm not sure. This is just in the state of Texas, and I'm assuming that each meal costs $50.

It may even be just a few hundred dollars they'll save.

[Princess Luna]

So, he was a racist who thought it'd be fun to kill a black person, and then thought it'd be fun to have a ridiculous last meal and not eat it, and cause Texans on death row from now on to be unable to have a last meal.

That guy is the definition of an asshole.
To be fair there was no way of him knowing his action would cause last meals to be banned in Texas, and I think the desire to give the people about to kill you one last middle finger is universal. If I was going to be executed I would choose the gas chamber because it is the most expensive and complacated form of execution used in modern times just as nice final "fuck you"

[StoneFrog]

Τhousand dollars? How many people are executed every year??????

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_people_executed_in_Texas

28 people since 2010

[bricolage]

a pound of barbecue what?!?!

[bricolage]

If I was going to be executed I would choose the gas chamber because it is the most expensive and complacated form of execution used in modern times just as nice final "fuck you"
Eh? Are you allowed to pick your method of execution?

[Nox]

Eh? Are you allowed to pick your method of execution?

Yes.

It varies from state to state, but the options on offer always include:

- Lethal Injection

There is often an option to have:

- Electricution

However, in a few states they have options such as:

- Firing Squad
- Gas Chamber
- Hanging

The options are complicated and vary alot depending on the state you're being executed in. Normally, you have a choice between two or in some cases three options.

[piet11111]

I would totally go for firing squad because its a traumatic experience for the ones having to shoot me.
Plus you just have to say something awesome.

[bricolage]

firing squad is definitely the most romantic.

[Rafiq]

I would order the most expensive meal ever. After I would escape.

What a big middle finger to the face :cool:

[redtex]

a pound of barbecue what?!?!

In Texas it is assumed to be beef brisket unless otherwise specified.


Eh? Are you allowed to pick your method of execution?

Not in Texas. It's lethal injection only now. Previously it was electric chair only, but we've become more civilized since then.

Might I add that I am disgusted with the death penalty.

[Property Is Robbery]

Everyone should get a last meal except nazi skinheads :cool:

[Ocean Seal]

It's ridiculous, and it will probably save no more than a few thousand dollars per year :rolleyes:
Its not about the money. Its about them dehumanizing the prisoners as a way of promoting retributive justice. Its about the absolute authority of the state.

[Seth]

Aside from the money factor, you can see why the state of Texas is butthurt. The last meal traditionally means that the condemned accepts the sentence. So ordering all that stuff and then not eating it is like giving the state the middle finger.

[Catma]

I kept typing all this shit, but I realized it sounded disgusting in light of the fact that the death penalty should be abolished.

[the last donut of the night]

Everyone should get a last meal except nazi skinheads :cool:

nobody should get an execution. period

[MarxSchmarx]

I found this eerily inspiring:


In 2007, Philip Workman asked for his vegetarian pizza to be given to a homeless person.

Even though it was denied, that's a really powerful gesture.

[Nox]

firing squad is definitely the most romantic.

In all honesty, firing squad is probably the quickest, most painless death there is.

With the lethal injection, you are just led there strapped down for 10 minutes while the injection slowly paralyses and kills you.

With electrocution, it hurts alot for the first few seconds until you die.

With hanging, it hurts alot when you break your neck and you don't always instantly die.

Gas chamber isn't too bad either, but I would be very uncomfortable struggling to breathe as I'm about to die.

[MarxSchmarx]

In all honesty, firing squad is probably the quickest, most painless death there is.

With the lethal injection, you are just led there strapped down for 10 minutes while the injection slowly paralyses and kills you.

With electrocution, it hurts alot for the first few seconds until you die.

With hanging, it hurts alot when you break your neck and you don't always instantly die.

Gas chamber isn't too bad either, but I would be very uncomfortable struggling to breathe as I'm about to die.

Apparently with lethal injection, they use a coctail used by anaesthesiologists that doesn't work on some people.

What's scary is that if the cocktail doesn't work, you are conscious and aware of all that is happening, but can't express it. The pain of the drug that stops your heart is excruciating unless you are put under.

terrifying.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070424091513.htm

[Klaatu]

So instead of a last meal, the prisoner should be allowed to at least get drunk or smoke a few doobies. ;)

[Seth]

In all honesty, firing squad is probably the quickest, most painless death there is.

With the lethal injection, you are just led there strapped down for 10 minutes while the injection slowly paralyses and kills you.

With electrocution, it hurts alot for the first few seconds until you die.

With hanging, it hurts alot when you break your neck and you don't always instantly die.

Gas chamber isn't too bad either, but I would be very uncomfortable struggling to breathe as I'm about to die.

en.wikipedia.org/wik i/Nitrogen_asphyxiation

^That sounds like it could be the most humane.

Thanks for the advice btw.

[Lanky Wanker]

The controversy began after Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed on Wednesday for the hate crime slaying of James Byrd Jr. more than a decade ago, asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover's pizza, a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts.

Sounds like he was stoned out of his mind when he looked at the menu.


Prison officials said Brewer didn't eat any of it.

This was 4 hours later when he came down.

[Yuppie Grinder]

>asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover's pizza, a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts. Prison officials said Brewer didn't eat any of it.

hahahahahahhaha

[Klaatu]

en.wikipedia.org/wik i/Nitrogen_asphyxiation

^That sounds like it could be the most humane.


A few sleeping pills with some good painkillers should be given first, about an hour beforehand.
Then he won't feel or know a thing. Any pain at all is cruel.

[citizen of industry]

it is apparently rooted in superstition about meals warding off possible haunting by condemned people once they are put to death.

Now look Texas, you're going to have a ghost problem.


Years ago, a Texas inmate even requested dirt for his final meal.
Ha! I wonder if they delivered?

[piet11111]

With hanging, it hurts alot when you break your neck and you don't always instantly die.

Hanging can be botched if the rope is too short you do not have enough momentum in the drop to break your neck if its too long your head pops off.
I read this on that botched death penalty site.

[Nox]

en.wikipedia.org/wik i/Nitrogen_asphyxiation

^That sounds like it could be the most humane.

Thanks for the advice btw.

Seems interesting.

I don't understand though, how can your body be suffocating without you feeling a thing?

[RedAnarchist]

I found this eerily inspiring:



Even though it was denied, that's a really powerful gesture.

Afterwards, a lot of people donated vegetarian pizzas to homeless shelters in a kind gesture which is lost on the sort of people who like murdering people in the name of "justice".

[RedAnarchist]

Ha! I wonder if they delivered?

I doubt it. There used to be a list of last meals had by Texan execution victims, but I don't think it's available anywhere now. They do have a list of the last words of those victims on the Texas Department of "Justice" site - http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/executedoffenders.htm, going back to 1982 and which seems to be up to date on the grisly practice. Be warned, though, that the statements are often distressing, and quite a few are claiming innocence.

[EvilRedGuy]

What the fuck? I don't get this thread at all, sorry, it just makes no sense at all. We usually don't have threads like this, i mean crimes of the state which happen every minute we breathe, nothing new here.


Anyway a last meal (i heard it was a eat-all-you-can eat kind of thing?) should definitely be provided, however, execution just dosen't make any sense at all, in the first place. This makes me think though, could you kill survive by eating yourself to death? Don't even know if that is painless. Before the death penalty i mean.

[redtex]

Seems interesting.

I don't understand though, how can your body be suffocating without you feeling a thing?

Because you're still breathing. Since air is mostly nitrogen your body doesn't feel it and you just fall asleep.

I work in the petrochemical industry and workers sometimes die from nitrogen asphyxiation when working in enclosed spaces such as cleaning tanks. We use nitrogen to purge equipment because it's cheap and inert, unlike air which has oxygen. So if a worker unknowingly enters a tank which is filled with pure nitrogen he won't even know it, he just takes a few breaths, passes out and dies a few minutes later totally unaware.

I attend safety classes on this stuff all the time. One thing they emphasise on nitrogen asphyxiation is how it is so not painful that you never even feel it coming. You just drop out.

[EvilRedGuy]

Because you're still breathing. Since air is mostly nitrogen your body doesn't feel it and you just fall asleep.

I work in the petrochemical industry and workers sometimes die from nitrogen asphyxiation when working in enclosed spaces such as cleaning tanks. We use nitrogen to purge equipment because it's cheap and inert, unlike air which has oxygen. So if a worker unknowingly enters a tank which is filled with pure nitrogen he won't even know it, he just takes a few breaths, passes out and dies a few minutes later totally unaware.

I attend safety classes on this stuff all the time. One thing they emphasise on nitrogen asphyxiation is how it is so not painful that you never even feel it coming. You just drop out.

That wouldn't be okay for the imperialists though, knowing them it has to be done the most brutal painful way. Throughout history. :rolleyes:

[Zav]

If I had to choose my execution method, I would be hung on a traditional gallows in Central Park so people can see how much the death penalty sucks.

[RedAnarchist]

If I had to choose my execution method, I would be hung on a traditional gallows in Central Park so people can see how much the death penalty sucks.

I doubt it would have the desired effect, to be honest. People see a lot of violence throughout their lives. Plus, public executions used to be common, and people would actually go and watch the execution just like someone today might go to the cinema or to watch a sport.

[Zav]

I doubt it would have the desired effect, to be honest. People see a lot of violence throughout their lives. Plus, public executions used to be common, and people would actually go and watch the execution just like someone today might go to the cinema or to watch a sport.
The violence people see is through a screen, and are numbed to it. It might be different to see in real life, or it might not. It would make a good social experiment if it was fixed such that the hanged didn't die.

[Misanthrope]

Who cares about the food? They are still murdering people in the name of justice.

[RedAnarchist]

The violence people see is through a screen, and are numbed to it. It might be different to see in real life, or it might not. It would make a good social experiment if it was fixed such that the hanged didn't die.

Perhaps, although not all violence is seen through a screen, especially in developing countries, or in inner cities, or even in many homes.

Regarding last meals, I found this - http://www.lastmealsproject.com/pages.html.

[La Comédie Noire]

I don't know how anyone could eat before they were to be put to death. I'd be far too nervous!


The violence people see is through a screen, and are numbed to it.

A lot of people have a severe shock when they see violence and death in real life rather than what they are accustomed to from movies.

[The Stalinator]

You know, I think after locking someone up for ten years and forcing them to mentally count the days until their painful and inevitable state-sanctioned murder in the near future, they deserve a little junk food before they pass on. Even if they were a racist asshole like Brewer.

Just my two cents.

[Nox]

I doubt it. There used to be a list of last meals had by Texan execution victims.

I saw a list of last meals before somewhere, possibly in a book.

I think if you refuse to choose a last meal, they give you lobster or steak (can't remember which).

[freakazoid]

The death penalty isn't murder, unless they was innocent. I'm all for the death penalty as long as it is 100% known that the person did it. The point of the death penalty is to remove a dangerous person from society.

[RedAnarchist]

The death penalty isn't murder, unless they was innocent. I'm all for the death penalty as long as it is 100% known that the person did it. The point of the death penalty is to remove a dangerous person from society.

But what about the US states who are quite obviously racist in their use of the death penalty?

There's also the fact that the death penalty is not having any positive effect on crime rates, nor does it prevent murders from taking place.

[freakazoid]

Racist in their use of the death penalty? I'm assuming that you mean they execute black people more than whites? I'm not sure how states decide to use it, whether it be anyone who commits murder or if it is up to the decision of the judge. I'm sure it changes by state. Would have to look at individual stats. But even if judges had more black people executed, that still doesn't make it murder. More black being convicted is a different issue that should be resolved. Also it's not about having a positive effect on crime rates, it's about removing a dangerous person from society.

[Nox]

Perhaps, although not all violence is seen through a screen, especially in developing countries, or in inner cities, or even in many homes.

Regarding last meals, I found this - http://www.lastmealsproject.com/pages.html.

Wow, I nearly shed a tear watching that. Can't wait for the book to be released.

They've got the technique bang on, it's such an emotional thing to watch.

[Nox]

Racist in their use of the death penalty?

Yup.

79% of the victims of crimes that have resulted in a death penalty have been white.

So basically, if a white guy gets murdered, the murderer is very likely to be given the death penalty, the same can't be said for blacks - only 14% of the victims of crimes that have resulted in a death penalty have been black.

[freakazoid]

Victims of "crimes"?

[Nox]

Victims of "crimes"?

Crimes that resulted in the death penalty. It's all there in plain English.

[freakazoid]

These are some dubious stats.

[the last donut of the night]

So instead of a last meal, the prisoner should be allowed to at least get drunk or smoke a few doobies. ;)

but what are a few doobies with no munchie snacks?

[redtex]

The death penalty isn't murder, unless they was innocent. I'm all for the death penalty as long as it is 100% known that the person did it. The point of the death penalty is to remove a dangerous person from society.

No. Just no. The state CANNOT 100% KNOW that anyone did anything. There have been many many innocent people released under the Innocence Project http://www.innocenceproject.org/ whom the state had convicted because the state was 100% convinced they knew the truth. This because Innocence Project attorneys went back and used DNA evidence to prove their innocence and other methods.

Also, here where I live in the Death Penalty capital of the world the Houston Police Crime Lab was actually SHUT DOWN by the federal government because they had falsified so many DNA tests.

Also here in Texas if the prosecutor has exculpatory evidence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exculpatory_evidence he does NOT have to give it to the defendant! I saw an interview of the Harris County District Attorney (Chuck Rosenthal) several years back where a reporter asked him why he didn't give the defendant the exculpatory evidence in a particular case which most likely would have led to his release, Chuck Rosenthal actually LAUGHED on camera and said, "because he wasn't entitled to it" (by law). See? It doesn't matter to the state whether you're guilty or not. What matters is the prosecutor's record of wins/losses. And if they have to lie, falsify DNA evidence, intimidate witnesses, they will do it.

While I'm at it, if you think DNA tests are 100% accurate, you're wrong. They are so easily falsifiable. And in some cases, even when performed correctly can have errors as much as 1:7000.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Death penalty is a crime against humanity. The only time I would support executions would be in times of revolutionary warfare. Other than that, absolutely not. It is a horrid thing to put another human to death. Also, I believe it is proven that it provides no deterrence to crime. I see it as more like a sick form of revenge made by the state.

[RedAnarchist]

No surprise here - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/27/texas-death-row-cook-last-meals. Texas requests an offer from a prison cook to offer last meals for free.

As for states murdering people, Florida is going to murder Cuban-born Manuel Valle tomorrow, after he has spent 33 years (which is more than half of his whole life, as he is only 61) on Death Row there.

[KevlarPants]

There's also the fact that the death penalty is not having any positive effect on crime rates, nor does it prevent murders from taking place.

Well... It does, actually. You know, since you kill a murderer/rapist, that could very well kill/rape more people, in prison or on the outside.

I kinda feel like a piece of shit for contesting what an Admin said, but hey, we're communists, so it doesn't matter.

[RedAnarchist]

Well... It does, actually. You know, since you kill a murderer/rapist, that could very well kill/rape more people, in prison or on the outside.

True, but it doesn't have a noticeable part in lowering the crime rate.


I kinda feel like a piece of shit for contesting what an Admin said, but hey, we're communists, so it doesn't matter.

No need to feel like a piece of shit at all.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Listened to an interview on NPR with the cook who offered to pay for "last meals". The fact that they rejected his offer means that the concept of "budget cuts" is nonsense, of course. Also, he mentioned in the interview that all last meals had to be prepared with available ingredients from the prison commisary, so if you were to order, for example, a t-bone steak and a pizza, what you'd get probably wouldn't look very much like what you were expecting.

[MarxSchmarx]

Racist in their use of the death penalty? I'm assuming that you mean they execute black people more than whites? I'm not sure how states decide to use it, whether it be anyone who commits murder or if it is up to the decision of the judge. I'm sure it changes by state. Would have to look at individual stats. But even if judges had more black people executed, that still doesn't make it murder. More black being convicted is a different issue that should be resolved. Also it's not about having a positive effect on crime rates, it's about removing a dangerous person from society.

Good point - a lot of the arguments against the death penalty (esp. the injustice of sentencing an innocent) also apply to insane prison sentences running decades. A lot of the shit that goes on in death penalty trials in America (or most countries with the death penalty) like racism and prosecutorial misconduct are magnified several fold when a person's life is not immediately at stake.

If the death penalty were not so abhorrent and it abolition everywhere such a compelling priority, I would be very tempted to call people out on creating the impression that the kinds of injustices you point out are somehow uniquely problematic to the death penalty.

[ClearlyChrist]

What's Funny Is That I've Heard Many Reports Of People Asking For A Hamburger, Fries, And A Coke For Their Last Meal. Now, I Don't Know About Americans, But I've Come To Know This As A Happy Meal, Which Is Fucking Hilarious When You Think About It.