Once a Killer, Always a Killer? Prison Misconduct of Former Death-Sentenced Inmates in Arizona

Abstract

Whether death-sentenced inmates represent the “worst of the worst” in terms of prison violence is the focus of this investigation. Capital offenders in Arizona who obtained relief from their death sentences during the modern era (1975–2005) were identified (N = 80) and their demographic characteristics and disciplinary records retrospectively reviewed for their years on death row (M = 6.4) and their subsequent years in the general prison population spent (M = 13.1). Consistent with other studies, prevalence rates of post-relief disciplinary infractions were inversely related to severity. Only 3.8% committed a prison assault with great bodily injury and only one in 100 killed again in prison. Predictive factors were limited: race, years on death row (inversely), assaultive misconduct on death row, and age at death penalty relief (inversely). A risk scale based on the latter three factors was moderately successful in classifying these offenders into three risk categories.