What’s it like to be on death row in Texas?

When someone is sentenced to death row in the state of Texas, they can wait between one and 31 years for their execution. That is, unless the case is appealed within that time frame.

Average Texas Death Row Stats

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the average time spent on death row before execution is about 11.22 years. The shortest time spent – ​​252 days – was by Joe Gonzales out of Potter County in 1996.

David Lee Powell served the longest sentence on death row in Texas history, at just over 31 and a half years.

The average age for execution in Texas? 39 years old. The youngest person sentenced to death was just 24 years old, and the oldest was Carl Wayne Buntion of Harris County in 2022. He was 78 years old.

Where are death row inmates kept?

Typically, death row inmates are isolated from other inmates and assigned separate numbers specific to their sentence. They may also be excluded from employment programs and educational opportunities.

The Death Penalty Information Center also stated that some death row inmates spend up to 23 hours a day alone in their cells. The information center also raises the question of whether those on death row are serving two sentences: execution AND years of solitary confinement.

What are capital crimes in Texas?

The TDCJ includes a complete list of crimes that can result in the death penalty. Here are some highlights:

• Murder of a child under 10 or under 15
• Murder during a prison escape attempt
• Murder while already in prison for a murder conviction
• Murder of a lawfully performing peace officer

Quick Facts About Texas Death Row

From 1819 to 1923, hanging was the typical form of execution for criminals. 1924 was the year the electric chair was first used in Texas.

Legal injection, an overdose of the drug Pentobarbital, took over in 1982. It wasn’t until 1996 that family and friends were allowed to witness executions.