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Interview with Rev. Smith in a Austria Newspaper by Sabine S,
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sabine
Edwin Smith, please tell us a little bit about yourself and why you know
so much about the death penalty in Texas.

My name is Edwin Smith and I am the founder of Dove Prison Ministry
International. Most recently I have launched a group called True Justice
Foundation to fight to abolish the death penalty in the United States. I
worked as a volunteer Chaplain on death row in Texas for almost two
years. I have made many friends and have had personal contact with the
men while visiting at their cells. On October 4th, 2000 I was asked by
the prison warden to resign as a Chaplain because I had been involved in
helping the family of one of the prisoners to get information about
their son posted on the internet. The warden told me this was a conflict
of interest. I am currently still working to assist the prisoners in any
way possible.

What means you worked as a voluteer chaplain ? Are there also chaplains,
who are payed from the state and if so, how do they stand to the death
penalty ?

The State of Texas uses volunteers to help assist the full time
Chaplains. One must attend a training session to learn the rules and
regulations of the prison system and then they are certified to work as
a volunteer. There are volunteers who work as Chaplains, school
teachers, and social workers. At the Terrell Unit in Livingston there
are 15 volunteers who work as
Chaplains. The state also employs full time Chaplains who are paid by
the state and are employees of the state. While I cannot speak about
all, many of the full time Chaplains I know are very much pro death
penalty. I am sure that there are some who may be anti-death penalty but
do not know them.

What do you say about "an eye for an eye" ? Many people, who support the
death penalty say, this means, that god supports the death penalty. What
do you think ?

When the people were under the law in the time of Moses and the prophets
they were bound by the "eye for an eye" law. However, Jesus Himself said
in Matthew 5:38-42 that we should turn the other cheek when someone
smites us on the other. I believe that what He was teaching was that we
are not to return the same treatment to someone for what we have
received. We should take the humble, meek way and allow God to be judge.
Romans 12:19 teaches us that we are not to avenge ourselves, that
vengeance belongs to God alone and
that He will repay. We are taught to give food and drink to our enemies
and to overcome evil with good.

The most people in Europe do not know anything about the inmates on
americas death row. Could we say, that they are the most worstest
killers ? Would you try to be there supporter and friend, if there would
be no death penalty and they would be "only" in prison ?

Ironically, the worst killers in America are not those on death row.
Many are cold blooded killers, but also very smart. They kill and are
smart enough not to commit another crime at the same time. Under Texas
law one can only be tried and given the death penalty if their crime
meets certain criteria. Those who are extremely violent and kill for
revenge or because of drug deals know how to kill without placing
themselves in the order for a death sentence. These killers are serving
terms that may range from 20 years to life. Most will at some time in
the future be eligible for parole. These who will one day return to the
streets are the ones society should fear. That does not mean that there
are not some on death row who are also violent and should never be
paroled. Even when the death penalty will be abolished, and I believe it
will be, we must continue to be their friends and support them. Many
will be serving life and still be in prison without family or friends. I
am their friend and will continue to support them even when there is no
death penalty.

Many people are for the death penalty because they say, that prisons are
no penalty. They say, that the prisoners have a cool life. They can eat
3 times a day, can watch tv and "have a good time". Can you tell uns
more about the conditions in Terrell Unit, the death row of Texas ?

To those who say prison is no penalty, let me say, you are wrong. If
punishment is the reason for sending someone to prison then let them
live in those conditions for the rest of their life, not execute them.
Many I know would rather die than to spend their lives living in prison.
At Terrell they are kept in a 6 foot by 10 foot cell for 23 hours a day.
They are allowed out for one hour each day to shower and to exercise.
They must exercise alone, live alone, and eat alone. The noise on the
cell block is so over whelming that sleep is very difficult. Night and
day the noise is unbearable. There is only one very small window in
their cell and it is so high most can not see out without having to
place boxes on their bed and climb up to see out. The food is cold when
served. There is no air conditioning and no central heat. It is hot in
the summer and cold in the winter. There is no television for them to
watch and they are not allowed to meet for religious services. All
activities are done alone. The only time they see anyone else who is
friendly is if someone comes to visit them. If they have no family or
friend to send money they cannot buy a radio or books or paper to write.
Life is harsh and very lonely on death row at Terrell.

Can you tell, how visits happen ? What does the word "contact visits"
mean and are there contact visits in Terrell Unit ? How often are they
allowed to see their friends and familys and do you know how it is for
people to visit their loved ones on death row ?

Contact visits are when the inmate is allowed to touch their friend or
family. This is only allowed for the inmates who are considered general
population, those who are not on death row. Death row inmates have no
physical contact with their family or friends at all. No touching is
allowed, not even a hug. Even on the day of their execution the
condemned are not allowed to touch their loved ones. They are allowed to
have a visit from family or friend once a week. The ministers can visit
any time on any day. Wednesdays are media day and no visits are allowed
after noon time as this is set aside for interviews. Family and friends
who travel from great distances are allowed special visits of four hours
instead of two and can by special arrangement make two visits in the
same week. All visits and special arrangements must be approved by the
warden's office before visiting.

The conditions in Terrell Unit seems to be very bad. Do the inmates have
no rights ? Is there anything they can do in a legal way for better
conditions ? What does the law say about it ?

Inmates at Terrell have almost no rights. They can file a grievance when
their rights have been denied or abused but it often is of no use. In
order to make the prison comply they have to file a lawsuit and that can
take years in the courts before anything is done. The law says they have
access to medical treatment, but their medication is often not given.
The prison system can put them on lock down at any time they feel a need
to do so and don't have to give a reason. The isolation is the worst
thing the men have to deal with. Not having any contact with other
inmates and not being able to watch TV.

Lockdown is when the prison decides there is a security risk or there is
some trouble and they lock the inmates in their cells. They are not
allowed out at all, only once every three days for a shower. Their meals
are only peanut butter sandwiches during this time. Sometimes,
depending on the reason for the lockdown , their mail and other
privileges are suspended as well. Visits may or may not be allowed
during lockdown. If weapons are found and the guards do a shake down,
then lockdown also occurs. If there is a riot or fight lockdown can
result.

Can you tell me some things about the behavior of the guards. i heard
storys, that some guards thread inmates and beat them up. are this
storys true ?

The way inmates are treated by guards range from being abused to being
treated very well. Guards, as any other group of people includes good
and bad. Yes, there are instances of abuse by guards who don't care. But
there are also guards who try to treat the inmates with some degree of
respect and courtesy. A lot of how the treatment is done is dependent on
the actions of the inmates. Personally, I have never witnessed any abuse
nor have I ever been treated with anything other than respect.

Let´s go back to your "job" as a volunteer chaplain. How near did you
came to the inmates ? Were you able to touch them or was there also a
glass between you ? Were you able to be alone with them ? Did you find
some special friends, or was everyone like the other for you ?

As a volunteer I went to the cells. I stood outside the cell but was
able to touch the men through the bars. Now at Terrell the doors are
solid and only a small window which is covered with heavy wire. There is
only an opening large enough to stick your finger through and touch the
inmates finger. There were guards on the row but not near where I was. I
have made many special friendships with some of the men and some are
just casual acquaintances. Each man is different just as people on the
street are different. Some are more friendly than others.

Are you allowed to see your friends now ? And if so, only two hours a
week like evey visitor ?

As a minister I am allowed to visit two men each day for two hours. I
can see anyone I request and could see the same man more than once each
week if I wanted. It is up to me to request who I should like to see.

When one of the inmates you take care of has an execution-date - how can
you help him with this ? And did you ever join the execution of an
inmate ? How can you deal with all this ?

I have never witnessed an actual execution. Some of the men have asked
me to be a witness for them should they get a date some time later. When
a date is set it is a very stressful time for everyone. Many of the men
have become Christians or have some other religious experience and they
draw strength from that. Most I know have had peace and gone very
quietly and willingly to the execution chamber. They feel that they are
going home and will be free from their life of hardship. I have given
the last sacraments to some just before their execution and prayed with
them and their families.

We two have the same friend: Johnny Paul Penry. can you tell the readers
about this man ? why is he special and what happened on the 16th of
November ?

Johnny Paul Penry is a very special friend of many around the world. He
has an I.Q. of a 7 year old child. Since meeting Johnny he has taken me
as his father, and all his mail is signed, "Your son John." Johnny is
always laughing and happy and asking about his friends. It is important
to him to receive mail and know that people love him. On November 16th
Johnny was scheduled to die by lethal injection by the State of Texas.
At approximately 3 p.m. while we were meeting with the prison officials
concerning the execution, the Supreme Court issued a stay. All of us who
were to be witnesses were rejoicing and giving thanks for this miracle.
Johnny's case will be reheard by the Supreme Court sometimes this
summer. The State of Texas is also considering passing a law that would
ban the execution of the mentally retarded.

Before we close this interview, is there anything you ask the europeans
to do ? And what can we do here, on this site of the world ?

There are some things our friends in Europe can do to help. First, they
can sign petitions and write letters when a campaign is under way.
Prayer is important for the men and their families and anyone who
believes in God can pray. Become a pen friend and encourage the inmates
by writing letters or making visits. For the men who have no money
people can contribute to a fund that has been set up to provide the
needs for the men. An account is being set up in England for money to be
collected. It will then be drawn out and distributed to meet the needs
of the men as well as help to pay expenses of my travels to visit the
men. Details of the account and where to send the money will be made
known soon.

Thank you very much for taking the time for this interview.
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Reiner Stensgaard Goldau
Dove Prison Ministry International
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Denmark
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Page Updated Sat Apr 7, 2001 3:01pm EDT