From Death to Life

The disciplinary records of 39 Indiana death row inmates who were transferred to the general prison population following modification of their sentence from death to capital life between 1972 and 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. Overall prevalence for the entire period of incarceration indicated that 14 inmates (35.9%) were involved in 24 violent acts. Twenty-six percent were involved in these violent acts while on death row and 20.5% in the general prison population. Fewer than one third of these violent acts resulted in serious injury. History of violence in the community did not differentiate inmates who exhibited serious institutional violence. The majority of these former death row inmates were not a significant management problem in the general prison population.