Reflecting After Death Row Tour

Recently I was given the opportunity to tour the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison located in Jackson, GA. When a convicted person is sentenced to prison time in Georgia they are initially sent to this facility for evaluation prior to being assigned to one of the prisons in Georgia. This facility is also home to death row and the execution chamber.

As with most prison facilities, the outside appearance is a menacing façade of guard towers, fence and razor wire. Inside is a continuation of the no-nonsense utilitarian institution complete with shiny floors and instructions painted on the walls. The echo of Drill Instructor-like shouts almost brings back memories from my Army experience until the clang of cell doors reminds me that the people who live here are not volunteers.

Any tax paying citizen concerned with prisoners lying around watching television in the lap of luxury can rest assured that luxury is the last thing these inmates experience. Every waking moment for these prisoners is structured, monitored and designed to instill discipline and focus. 

Death Row is just as many of us have seen portrayed in the movies--a two-story cell block with condemned individuals staring out at what could have been. For 23 hours each day these prisoners exist in their assigned 6 ft. by 9 ft. cell with nothing more than a few personal possessions to occupy their time. In the winter, this area is heated by steam radiators with fans that do little to disperse the warm air. In the summer, these same fans circulate the outside air through open windows, there is no air conditioning.

Those assigned to Death Row have daily inspections and searches. They are required to shave daily and all stood at attention, boots shined, ID card in hand. No instructions were given prior to the tour, but I noticed every person in our group stood as far away from these cells as possible, our backs against the wall, knowing what stood behind those bars.

The execution chamber was a very solemn place, and everyone including our guide spoke in a much quieter tone than normal. We were shown the electric chair that had been used until 2000 when the method of execution was changed to lethal injection. Separated from our seating area by three windows was the medical gurney upon which 29 previous offenders had been executed by lethal injection.

This tour was part of our class on Leadership and Decision Making. Even for a veteran officer I found this to be very eye-opening and gave great illustration to the consequences of our actions and decisions. It is an aspect of life very few get to see, and I now wonder what effect it might have if every high school senior was required to take this tour.