Stories from a Broken System: Corrections Officials

Included in the hundreds of thousands of people that spoke out against last week's execution of Troy Davis were members of the corrections profession - individuals who are essential to the mechanics of an execution, but who are often forgotten.

Six brave corrections officers in particular brought their experience to public light in an open letter to officials in Georgia:

"We write to you as former wardens and corrections officials who have had direct involvement in executions. Like few others in this country, we understand that you have a job to do in carrying out the lawful orders of the judiciary. We also understand, from our own personal experiences, the awful lifelong repercussions that come from participating in the execution of prisoners."

Also as part of their letter, the corrections brought forth a haunting question in regards to the specifics of the Troy Davis case, "Living with the nightmares is something that we know from experience. No one has the right to ask a public servant to take on a lifelong sentence of nagging doubt, and for some of us, shame and guilt. Should our justice system be causing so much harm to so many people when there is an alternative?”

Dr. Allen Ault, one of the six signers, is the former Director of the Georgia Department of Corrections and the former warden of a Georgia prison where he oversaw five executions. Dr. Ault has remained in the spotlight as the media continues to cover the Troy Davis execution. On the Rachel Maddow Show and in Newsweek magazine Dr. Ault gives a human face and voice to the invisible men and women who are asked to carry out the death penalty on our behalf:

“Those of us who have participated in executions often suffer something very much like posttraumatic stress. Many turn to alcohol and drugs. For me, those nights that weren’t sleepless were plagued by nightmares. My mother and wife worried about me. I tried not to share with them that I was struggling, but they knew I was.”

The personal narratives that have emerged in the wake of Troy's execution are diverse and plentiful, and it is our job to ensure this conversation does not end until the death penalty is no longer part of our collective story.

EJUSA will continue to do our part to keep the conversation alive. We also want to continue to learn. The actions of these six former corrections officers has likely opened a door for those who have been in their shoes to speak out about their own personal struggles with capital punishment. If you are a current or retired corrections official please contact us at ejedition [at] ejusa [dot] org so we can ensure that your story is heard as well.