From death to life - Prison behavior of former death row inmates in Indiana

The disciplinary records of 39 Indiana death row inmates who were transferr ed to the general prison population following modification of their sentenc e from death to capital life between 1972 and 1999 were retrospectively rev iewed. Overall prevalence for the entire period of incarceration indicated that 14 inmates (35.9%) were involved in 24 violent acts. Twenty-six percen t were involved in these violent acts while on death row and 20.5% in the g eneral prison population. Fewer than one third of these violent acts result ed in serious injury. History of violence in the community did not differen tiate inmates who exhibited serious institutional violence. The majority of these former death row inmates were not a significant management problem i n the general prison population.