Florence, AZ —Currently there are 121 men and three women on Death Row in Arizona.   The killing here substantially exceeds larger states like Texas for per capita executions.   There has been a number of exonerations here and  certainly  more are expected. The State of Arizona like several others has cut off TV news from access to any inmate for any reason.  Inmates can write letters but letters don’t make watchable TV and prison officials know this.  A huge percentage of inmates are illiterate and can't even write a simple letter. Prison officials try and justify this by suggesting that crime victims become traumatized whenever inmates appear on TV.   That’s hogwash unless of course some "victim" falsely accused and obtained a conviction against an innocent person.  Yes, that does happen far more often than we will admit. The media does not like wasting time listening to inmates whine about their troubles.  They on...

Barbara Graham in Court at her 1953 trial Burbank, CA — Mabel Monahan a former pro-roller skater who had been disabled but was living out her retirement in a nice Burbank home located at 1718 West Parkside Avenue in Burbank, CA. 30 year-old Barbara Graham was a very pretty but troubled gal who came from Oakland, CA.   Graham was raised in really crappy conditions and often often by strangers.   Her education was somewhat marginal. Back then being homeless was a crime called Vagrancy.   That was her first offense and Graham was jailed at the Ventura State School for Girls.   Graham’s own mother also once did some time there.     Later Graham also did a prison stretch over a perjury beef while trying to help a friend in trouble. Back in those days there were no birth control pills and abortion was a serious felony.   Graham unwisely married three men, had a child by each.     Everyone treated single mothers of that sad...

Draper, UT —I visited the prison here several years ago on an adoption matter. It’s a clean appearing seemingly well run institution for men that have done vile and horrible things. Many are dangerous career criminals housed there that should never be set free until they’re too old to hurt anyone. After midnight tonight Ronnie Lee Gardner , 49 is going to be escorted to and strapped into a chair and five men will fire .30 Caliber Winchester rifles at a small target on his chest. Gardner’s crime was a despicable act. He was convicted of capital murder 25 years ago for the 1985 fatal courthouse shooting of attorney Michael Burdell during an escape attempt. He was desperate and 24 years-old back then. It’s disturbing to me that an entire quarter of a century has passed. That much time would change anyone. There is no evidence since that mad act that indicates he’d re-offend or not find a peaceful way to somehow serve society even if it was behind bars. Killing Gardner now is almos...