Defending prisoners on death row
Episode description
Elizabeth Franklin-Best has been a Criminal Defence Lawyer in the United States of America for over 20 years. Elizabeth recounts one of her most challenging death penalty cases where it appears the prosecutor was excluding jurors based on race. She shares why she finds death penalty cases particularly difficult and why she feels that executing people does not add any value to society. We discuss the importance of considering somebody’s background when sentencing them and whether lengthy prison sentences actually work.
Timestamps
[01:05] Elizabeth shares why she became a criminal defense lawyer
[02:32] Misconceptions people have about criminal defense lawyers
[03:45] One of the most challenging death penalty cases Elizabeth has dealt with
[08:01] Why Elizabeth feels death penalty cases are particularly difficult
[12:30] The importance of understanding someone’s background when sentencing them
[14:05] Whether there is a difference in the types of people given the death penalty compared to other clients Elizabeth has dealt with
[15:15] Executing somebody does not achieve any valuable societal goal
[20:50] South Carolina is particularly punitive on crime and how this might impact recidivism rates
[23:55] Prison Litigation Reform Act 1996 and Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act 1996
[31:35] What can we do to make prisons safer for prison staff and prisoners?
[37:30] People can commit horrific crimes and still become a safe citizen as they age
[39:35] Private prisons
[41:58] What is the job of a prison?
[43:55] How can we improve prisons?
[46:20] How do we improve conditions for prison staff?
Connect with Elizabeth Franklin-Best
Connect with me:
*The views and opinions expressed by the guests on Evolving Prisons are not the views or opinions of the host*