More Death Row Realism

Today's Austin American-Statesman reprints Jeanne Woodford's must-read OpEd, "Death Row Realism," published last week by the Los Angeles Times, as noted in this post.

Woodford is a former director of the California prison system and former warden at San Quentin.

As the warden of San Quentin, I presided over four executions. After each one, someone on the staff would ask, "Is the world safer because of what we did tonight?"

We knew the answer: No.  

I worked in corrections for 30 years, starting as a correctional officer and working my way up to warden at San Quentin and then on to the top job in the state — director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. During those years, I came to believe that the death penalty should be replaced with life without the possibility of parole.

I didn't reach that conclusion because I'm soft on crime. My No. 1 concern is public safety. I want my children and grandchildren to have the safety and freedom to pursue their dreams. I know from firsthand experience that some people are dangerous and must be removed from society forever — people such as Robert Lee Massie.

I note that the OpEd is being reprinted by a number of other newspapers, as well.