A Day On Death Row In Idaho

[heidi salazar]

Day on Death Row

KUNA - Last week 2 News explored the economics of the death penalty in Idaho, and whether it's becoming too costly for the state to keep capital punishment.

Now we’re showing you what it’s like to live and work on Idaho’s death row.

"When you walk into death row, you're on death row,” says Idaho Correctional Officer Todd Sargent. “All the inmates are under the sentence of death. There’s definitely a feeling of senses being heightened, and more alert."

Most of the officers know exactly why each inmate has been sentenced to death. Richard Leavitt is facing a death sentence for stabbing and mutilating a woman in her home. David Card shot and killed two people in Canyon County. Erick Hall was convicted for raping and killing a woman along the Boise greenbelt.

That's the history of just three of Idaho’s 17 death row inmates.

Officer Angela Shelly wan’t scared off by the inmates’ past. "My mom was a corrections officer,” says Shelly. “I was a stay at home mom for 10 years. I wanted to get a job and I don't like normal jobs, so this really intrigued me, because it's ever changing."

The inmates generally want to know a lot about the officers who oversee them. But how much an officer reveals depends on the officer. "I share very little,” says Sargent. “They want to know a lot, and they'll take as much as you'll tell them."

Sometimes the inmates ask questions of officers because they want a connection with someone. But others often ask for information that might be used later. “Inmates have threatened to come to my house saying 'I won't be in here forever,’” says Sargent. When 2 News asked Sargent if that worries him, he laughed it off, saying that’s why he has a gun at home.

Each day, each death row inmate gets two hot meals, and one cold meal. But unlike the general population, they eat in their cells. Officer Juan Reyes says food issues are one of the big complaints among death row inmates. “They have to get certain portions,” says Reyes. “They will complain if their portions are not correct. A lot of them know exactly what they're supposed to get so you will have a few complaints."

Death row inmates are kept in their cells 23 hours a day, and only let out for an hour of exercise. The only other time they leave is to be escorted to the shower, or if they have appointments with attorneys or doctors. Before a death row inmate is let out, they're handcuffed through the door's utility port.

A typical cell is about 12 feet long by seven feet wide and includes a shelf, coaxial cable for television, electrical outlets for fans and hot pots, and a narrow window.

Outside maximum security, the current execution chamber is literally a mobile home. But Idaho Department of Correction officials say it's likely a new facility will be built before the next inmate is put to death.

Lethal injection is the form of execution in Idaho. The option of the firing squad was overturned recently. Idaho has only put only one inmate to death since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970's. No date has been set for the next execution.

For the officers, a good day working death row is when everything goes as scheduled. But you might be surprised at what constitutes a bad day. “The hardest part of the job is just getting the paperwork done,” says Shelly. “That’s the hardest part."

But once you see their job first hand, you quickly learn an officer does much more than simply guard inmates. “You're a babysitter, a parent, a mother, a father, a therapist,” says Sargent. “There's a multitude of roles you can go through every day."

And believe it or not, like many jobs, it's hard to say goodbye. Officer Reyes has been with the Idaho Department of Correction for 24 years. He can retire December, 2010, but still hasn't decided exactly when he wants to call it quits.


http://www.2news.tv/news/local/69632662.html

There is a video at the link!

[JT]

"Sometimes the inmates ask questions of officers because they want a connection with someone. But others often ask for information that might be used later. “Inmates have threatened to come to my house saying 'I won't be in here forever,’” says Sargent. When 2 News asked Sargent if that worries him, he laughed it off, saying that’s why he has a gun at home."

Give that man a medal!

Of course, the inmate is right: he won't be in there forever.  The only problem is that he'll be leaving via the execution chamber.

[Metfan62]

Thank you that was a good read...

[heidi salazar]

Thanks  I imagine with the small number of inmates it would be hard not to form so sort of bond with them. I was watching the Indiana episode of "Lockdown" , and Wrinkles got word he had lost his last appeal during filming. They interviewed a female CO and she started to cry. I felt bad for her.

[Metfan62]

Thanks  I imagine with the small number of inmates it would be hard not to form so sort of bond with them. I was watching the Indiana episode of "Lockdown" , and Wrinkles got word he had lost his last appeal during filming. They interviewed a female CO and she started to cry. I felt bad for her.

Maybe she is a thughugger in disguise?

[Granny B]

Thanks  I imagine with the small number of inmates it would be hard not to form so sort of bond with them. I was watching the Indiana episode of "Lockdown" , and Wrinkles got word he had lost his last appeal during filming. They interviewed a female CO and she started to cry. I felt bad for her.

Maybe she is a thughugger in disguise?

It is not unknown that a few female COs have gotten a little too fond of their charges.     Even to the point of "servicing" them.  There have been several articles on this site about that occurring.  There is one from as recently as about 6 months ago.

Thank God it does not happen more often than it has, or we would have more escapees from death row.  Those guys in prison are masters at manipulation. So if there is a female (or some males) around with not well defined mental powers  or the ability of saying no to the prisoners, they can easily be made into an accomplice in the prisoners schemes.

[63Wildcat]

Thanks  I imagine with the small number of inmates it would be hard not to form so sort of bond with them. I was watching the Indiana episode of "Lockdown" , and Wrinkles got word he had lost his last appeal during filming. They interviewed a female CO and she started to cry. I felt bad for her.

Maybe she is a thughugger in disguise?

It is not unknown that a few female COs have gotten a little too fond of their charges.     Even to the point of "servicing" them.  There have been several articles on this site about that occurring.  There is one from as recently as about 6 months ago.

Thank God it does not happen more often than it has, or we would have more escapees from death row.  Those guys in prison are masters at manipulation. So if there is a female (or some males) around with not well defined mental powers  or the ability of saying no to the prisoners, they can easily be made into an accomplice in the prisoners schemes.

Ya hit the nail right on the noggin Granny. They (inmates) test the CO's all the time. I know when they start with me  I just tell 'em to go ***** themselves then go about my business. Speaking of which.. business on the wing has been kinda slow lately.. Oh well... no headbanger's ball .. lol

[donna]

  thanks   a good read

[Jacques]

This is the Idaho football team:

Name
D.O.B.
IDOC #
Received
Comments

Sivak, Lacey
4-3-59
18114
December 1981
Stabbing/shooting death - Boise (Ada County)



Stuart, Gene
8-9-51
18235
December 1982
Beating death of a 3-year-old (Clearwater County)



Creech, Thomas
9-9-50
14984
January 1983
Beating death of inmate (Ada County)



McKinney, Randy
11-8-61
18329
March 1983
Shooting death - Arco (Butte County)



Leavitt, Richard
11/12/58
23081
Dec 1985
Mutilation/Stabbing Death - (Bingham County)



Pizzuto, Gerald
1-11-56
23721
May 1986
Beating deaths of two persons - New Meadows (Idaho County)


Rhoades, Paul
1-18-57
26864
March 1988
Raping/shooting death, Slaying (Bonneville County)


Card, David
10-27-59
28020
September 1989
Shooting deaths of two persons (Canyon County)



Porter, George
12-8-56
30968
August 1990
Beating death of female (Lewis County)



Fields, Zane
6-13-58
17483
August 1991
Stabbing death - Boise (Ada County)



Row, Robin
9-12-57
40171
December 1993
Arson deaths of husband, son, and daughter (Ada County)


Dunlap, Timothy A.
8-22-68
35385
April 1992
October 1991 murder. (Caribou County)



Hairston, James
7-6-76
50337
November 1996
Shooting deaths of two persons (Bannock County)


Shackelford, Dale    
2-19-62
64613    
October 2001    
Shooting deaths of ex-wife and her boyfriend (Latah County)


Hall, Erick    
3-10-71
33835    
October 2004    
September 2000 murder (Ada County)



Abdullah, Azad    
4-6-77
76321    
November 2004    
Arson death of wife (Ada County)

The status of all death penalty cases

20 Paz, Federico 3-29-88 1st degree murder Canyon Sentence reversed by parties’ stipulation in federal district court,
resentenced fixed life
21 Hoffman, Maxwell 6-13-89 1st degree murder Owyhee Sentence reversed by federal district court, resentenced fixed life
22 Card, Leslie 9-19-89 1st degree murder Canyon Appeals pending
23 Pratt, James 11-30-89 1st degree murder Bonner Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentenced 25-life
24 Porter, George 9-7-90 1st degree murder Lewis Appeals pending
25 Fields, Zane 3-7-91 1st degree murder Ada Appeals pending
26 Ivey, Benjamin 5-20-91 1st degree murder Canyon Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentenced fixed life
27 Wells, Keith 4-8-92 1st degree murder Ada Executed
28 Dunlap, Timothy 4-20-92 1st degree murder Caribou Appeals pending
29 Barajas, Aurelio 5-27-93 1st degree murder Canyon Sentence modified by state district court during Rule 35, reduced to
fixed life
30 Row, Robin 12-16-93 1st degree murder Ada Appeals pending
31 Wood, James 1-14-94 1st degree murder Bannock Died in prison
32 Hairston, James 11-15-96 1st degree murder Bannock Appeals pending
33 Lovelace, Faron 12-17-97 1st degree murder Bonner Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentenced fixed life
34 Smith, Shawn 9-4-98 1st degree murder Bonneville Sentence reversed by state district court during post-conviction,
resentenced fixed life
35 Thomas, Jimmie 8-20-99 1st degree murder Jerome Died in prison
36 Jauhola, Michael 5-9-01 1st degree murder Ada Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentencing pending
37 Shackelford, Dale 11-1-01 1st degree murder Latah Appeals pending
38 Payne, Darrell 5-31-02 1st degree murder Ada Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentencing pending
39 Hall, Eric 1-18-05/1-3-08 1st degree murder (x2) Ada Ada Appeals pending Appeals pending
40 Abdullah, Azad 3-4-05 1st degree murder Ada Appeals pending

Best

Jacques

[ScoopD (aka: Pam)]

good read and wow, Jacques, isn't that just a lovely bunch of cocoNUTS. 

[tpgisgay]

The death penalty in Idaho is racist!!! Look at how many white guys are on there? No mexicans, no blacks!

[ScoopD (aka: Pam)]

awww shyt, shame on Idaho...   

[vikkiw47]

well i see where 6 have had there sentences changed to life, 2- died in prison, 1-executed in 1982, and 1 waiting on re sentenced. Most have been there since the early 80's. WOW  i do not know why im so shocked by that, but i am . i find all this very interesting to say the least

[vikkiw47]

# NAME DATE CRIME COUNTY COMMENT
1 Osborn, David 6-21-79 1st degree murder Bannock Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentenced fixed life
2 Gibson, Thomas 11-5-81 1st degree murder Kootenai Negotiated settlement in Ninth Circuit, pled guilty to included offense &
resentenced
3 Creech, Thomas 1-25-82 1st degree murder Ada Appeals pending
4 McKinney, Randy 3-27-82 1st degree murder Butte Sentence reversed by federal district court, resentenced fixed life
5 Paradis, Donald 4-7-82 1st degree murder Kootenai Sentence commuted to fixed life by Gov. Batt; conviction reversed in
federal district court, pled guilty to included offense & resentenced
6 Aragon, Mark 9-30-82 1st degree murder Blaine Died in prison
7 Stuart, Gene 12-9-82 1st degree murder Clearwater Appeals pending
8 Sivak, Lacey 4-4-83 1st degree murder Ada Appeals pending
9 Fain, Charles 2-17-84 1st degree murder Canyon Conviction reversed by federal district court pursuant to stipulation,
released
10 Fetterly, Donald 2-24-84 1st degree murder Canyon Sentence reversed by federal district court, resentenced fixed life
11 Beam, Albert 3-9-84 1st degree murder Canyon Sentence reversed by Ninth Circuit, resentenced fixed life
12 Scroggins, Michael 3-9-84 1st degree murder Canyon Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentenced fixed life
13 Windsor, Karla 3-29-84 1st degree murder Canyon Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentenced fixed life
14 Lankford, Bryan 10-16-84 1st degree murder Idaho Sentence reversed by U.S. Supreme Court, resentenced indeterminate
life
15 Lankford, Mark 10-16-84 1st degree murder Idaho Conviction reversed by Ninth Circuit, retried & sentenced to fixed life
16 Leavitt, Richard 12-19-85 1st degree murder Bingham Appeals pending
17 Charboneau, Jamie 1-28-86 1st degree murder Jerome Sentence reversed by Idaho Supreme Court, resentenced fixed life
18 Pizzuto, Gerald 3-27-86 1st degree murder Idaho Appeals pending
19 Rhoades, Paul 3-24-88
5-13-88
1st degree murder
(x2) & 1st degree
Bonneville
Bingham
Appeals pending
Appeals pending

[vikkiw47]

this is the first part of the list that jacques posted http://www.corr.state.id.us/facts/Death_Penalty_Cases.pdf