Which States Allow Survivors to Witness an Execution?
Although some 35 states in the U.S. provide for capital punishment, few of them currently allow the family of the victim to actually witness the execution. In 2009 alone there were 52 executions in the United States. An overwhelming majority of those--24--took place in Texas, a state that allows up to five family members of the victim to witness the execution. In addition to Texas, the following states allow family members to witness executions, though the specific rules differ from state to state: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington. As many states go back and forth between abolishing the death penalty and reinstating it, the laws for execution witnesses are also in flux.
Should You Witness an Execution?
If you have lost a loved one as a result of the violent and senseless act of another, there is a good chance you have considered witnessing that person's execution. Perhaps you feel it could give you the closure you crave after years filled with anger, frustration and even hatred. Perhaps you want your rights as a victim acknowledged, and witnessing the execution of the person who turned your life upside-down seems to speak to that. If your state allows survivor witnesses at the execution, there are a myriad of reasons, pro and con, to guide your decision.
When considering this important decision you should be aware that some survivors who have witnessed the execution ended up feeling an overwhelming sense of disappointment. Why? Many felt that the person being executed died much too easily--much more easily than their loved one. Others felt shock and revulsion at the actual execution and there were even those who felt compassion when they least expected it.
On the flip side, there are those who witnessed an execution and came away with a sense of finally having peace, of laying something ugly to rest. They now felt they could begin the healing process in earnest. Consider your motives for wanting to see the execution. Is it retaliation, or do you sincerely believe you will not achieve closure for your pain until you've actually witnessed the execution?
If your state does provide for the family of the victim to witness the execution there is the additional possibility of an emotional confrontation between the family of the prisoner and the family of the victim when all are in attendance. Such a confrontation could only add to an already highly-charged issue. When considering attending an execution, take all of these facts into consideration and make the best decision for you and your family.
