Alabama's Death Row - Final Moments

Preparing for an inmate’s execution takes plays many days before the execution itself is set to take place.

Following precedent, the Alabama Supreme Court orders death warrants to take place on Thursdays. Before lethal injection was introduced in 2002, all executions took place at 12:01 a.m. After 2002, executions were moved take place at 6 p.m. to be more accommodating to witnesses.

On Tuesday before the scheduled execution, an inmate is moved to a holding cell which is adjacent to the death chamber. They are kept on strict 24-hour watch to prevent suicide.

On the days before an inmate is executed, he is allowed several opportunities for extended visitations with family, clergy and his attorneys. These visitations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and can last from 8 a.m. up until 4 p.m.

On Thursday, an inmate can request a last meal, but most inmates do not, according to a state prisons official. Those that do request a last meal are usually served in the afternoon.

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Source: Fox10TV. com, October 19, 2011

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