The Rag Blog: Rev. Carroll Pickett Discusses Texas' Death Row, Opposition to the Death Penalty

21 May 2008

Rev. Carroll Pickett Discusses Texas' Death Row, Opposition to the Death Penalty

Rev. Carroll Pickett at "The Walls," Huntsville, Texas
Chaplain Discusses 'Death House' Ministry

Reverend Carroll Pickett was the death-house chaplain at the Walls prison unit in Huntsville, Texas for 13 years. During his tenure, he ministered to 95 inmates executed by lethal injection.

Because he was employed by the state, Pickett was unable to voice his disapproval of capitol punishment while performing his ministry. But he has become an opponent of the death penalty since leaving the prison system.

Pickett co-authored a memoir with Carlton Stowers, titled Within These Walls. He is now the subject of a new documentary, At the Death House Door.

Rev. Pickett discussed his years spent ministering to Texas death house inmates Monday, May 19, 2008, on National Public Radio's "Fresh Air." Listen Now to the revealing program [39 min 19 sec].

Source, with links to related NPR material / Fresh Air, NPR / May 19, 2008

Also see Death row chaplain has change of heart / Austin Chronicle.
And David Lee Powell and the Question of "Closure" by Mariann Wizard / The Rag Blog

Thanks to William Michael Hanks / The Rag Blog

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