Forgiveness, spirituality and love: thematic analysis of last statements from Death Row, Texas (2002–17)

BACKGROUND: Psychological features associated with execution are not fully understood. AIMS: To analyse demographics of individuals executed in Texas and investigate whether there has been any change in common themes and psychological factors evident in last statements before execution between 2002 and 2017. DESIGN: Analysis of last statements from Death Row, Texas. METHODS: We (a) studied themes and psychological factors in last statements in Texas between August 2011 and May 2017; and (b) combined our 2011-17 data with our previous data (2002-06 and 2006-11) to present an overall analysis of last statements from 2002 to 2017. RESULTS: Between April 2002 and May 2017 (279 executions; 240 last statements), the execution rate in Texas fell from 25 per year to 12; median time on death row increased from 108.5 months to 149.5; median age at execution increased from 38 years to 40.5; and the proportion of offences involving multiple victims rose from 28.4% to 47.1%. The most common themes in last statements were love (78%), spirituality (58%), regret (35%) and apology (35%). The most common psychological factors were identification-egression (51%), unbearable psychological pain (47%) and rejection-aggression (40%). Two themes (forgiveness, use of poetry/literature) and three psychological factors (inability to adjust, interpersonal relations, identification-egression) became less common. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2002 and 2017, executed prisoners in Texas became fewer and older, spent longer on death row and had committed more serious offences. Themes of love and spirituality were constants, but requests for forgiveness declined.