Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2007-02-21

Duration: 00:57:14

Subjects: Death row inmates | Capital Punishment | Criminals -- Rehabilitation | Crime | Louisiana State Penitentiary

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Freeman, Craig Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Adderly, Rosanne Interviewee
• Boren, Jim Interviewee
• Sinquefield, John Interviewee
• Colomb, Sterling Interviewee
• Land, Kenneth Interviewee
• Cain, Burl Interviewee
• Burton, Clen Speaker
• Courville, Jean Speaker
• Douglas, Gregory Speaker
• Whitfield, Shirley Speaker
• Weiss, Walter Speaker
• Seals, Roger Speaker
• Doran, Mary Speaker
• Seal, Kevin Speaker
• Degravelles, Charles Panelist
• Clayton, Tony Panelist
• Bourke, Richard Panelist
• Boudreaux, Bernie Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from February 21, 2007, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on capital punishment in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Rosanne Adderly of Amnesty International; Jim Boren, attorney; John Sinquefield, assistant district attorney for East Baton Rouge Parish; Sterling Colomb, the parent of a murder victim; Dr. Kenneth Land, a sociologist at Duke University; and Burl Cain, Warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The audience members then discuss their views on whether Louisiana should continue to have the death penalty as a sentencing option and whether it is a justifiable response to violent crimes. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Deacon Charles DeGravelles, chaplin at Angola Prison; Tony Clayton, Assistant District Attorney in West Baton Rouge; Richard Bourke of the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center; and Bernie Boudreaux, former District Attorney for Iberia Parish. They discuss: criminal rehabilitation, if race affects criminal sentencing, and the appeals process. This program was preserved through a 2022-2023 Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman