Rev. Carroll Pickett: The TT Interview
The Rev. Carroll Pickett holds the world record for witnessing the most state executions as a chaplain. He saw 95 men die by lethal injection during his career as the death house chaplain.
In the years since he left the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Pickett has written a book and starred in an award-winning documentary that chronicled his work at the Walls Unit in Huntsville. He sat down with The Texas Tribune recently to talk about how he "seduced the emotions" of the condemned, why his views about the death penalty changed and how he now copes with all ...
Comments (8)
Justin Flores via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's definitely not painless for the family when an innocent person is executed before exoneration comes.
Erika Holzinger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why cant they just let murders ront in prison instead of killing them
Sheri Alexander via Texas Tribune on Facebook
when is an execution EVER painless sir?
Joy Banister via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Painless? Why? Most, if not all, have inflicted great pain on victims and their families. Really.....You can't afford to keep them for life in prisons. Look at the expenses.
Annette Bryant
There is no reason to have the Death Penalty in Texas when Texas has "Life in Prison With Out Parole". With the Budget in being 27 BILLION in the red and executions costing 10 (TEN) times more than life in prison, I would think that Gov. Perry would be interested in this fact alone. It is not unsual for the death penalty to cost 6 Million dollars and it cost an average of $45,000 to keep an inmate in prison for life. The death penalty is barbaric, inhumane, and degrading not to mention costly to the tax payers. Many states have stopped the death penalty already as well as many countries.
Annette Bryant
Joy Banister; You are absolutely WRONG when you say it is more expensive to keep an inmate in prison! The fact is that it cost $45,000 to keep an inmate in prison for life. It cost anywhere from $500,000.oo to execute an offender. There have been 236 innocent inmates murdered in error just since DNA was discovered. Being that the Texas budget is 27 Billion in the red; I would think that Gov. Perry (and you) would be interested if you pay taxes. Execution is not only 10 (ten) times more costly than life in prison; it is painfull to the family, it is inhumane, barbaric, degrading, and many states have abolished it as well as many countries. I see no reason for Texas to send inmates to the Texas Death Machine when Texas has the option of Life In Prison With Out Parole". By the way Joy, if I were you, I would not brag about going to the University of Texas from 1960 thru 1960. Did you flunk out or just could not make it?
Linda Childs via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Joy - If I remember correctly, anyone who is sentenced to die automatically (by law) begins the appeals process, which makes it far more expensive to execute someone rather than lock them up for the rest of their life.
Dale Curry
Thank you Rev. Pickett. It is christian's like you who give me hope.