What's behind the move of federal death row prisoners to Colorado?

from Noon Edition · host Indiana Public Media

During the first Trump administration, the government resumed federal executions after a 17-year lull.Between July 2020 and January 2021, 13 people on federal death row at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute were put to death.But in July 2021, under the Biden administration, a moratorium on federal executions was announced by attorney general Merrick Garland.Then, shortly before leaving office, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 prisoners on the federal death row, leaving only Tree of Life Synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, Mother Emanuel AME Church shooter Dylann Roof and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the only people eligible for execution. All three remain in Terre Haute.LISTEN: Rush to Kill podcastBut once back in office, President Trump announced his intention to resume federal executions and to forcefully pursue the death penalty in future cases.And, the administration is in the process of sending the remaining 37 prisoners on death row to ADX Florence, dubbed the Alcatraz of the Rockies. It’s the U.S.’s lone super-maximum security prison and where its most dangerous criminals are held.LISTEN: Biden stopped the executions of 37 men. Trump's DOJ wants to punish themThe move is designed to punish the prisoners whose sentences were commuted by Biden.Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X: “We have begun transferring the monsters Biden commuted to Supermax prisons, where they will spend the rest of their lives in conditions that match their egregious crimes.”On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the federal government moving death row prisoners from Terre Haute to ADX Florence, its desire to resume executions and the state of the prisoners remaining on death row.Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected] Breeden, Spiritual Advisor to Death Row InmateChiara Eisner, Correspondent, NPR's Investigations UnitGeorge Hale, Reporter, WFIU News

What this episode covers

During the first Trump administration, the government resumed federal executions after a 17-year lull. Between July 2020 and January 2021, 13 people on federal death row at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute were put to death. But in July 2021, under the Biden administration, a moratorium on federal executions was announced by attorney general Merrick Garland. Then, shortly before leaving office, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 prisoners on the federal death row, leaving only Tree of Life Synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, Mother Emanuel AME Church shooter Dylann Roof and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the only people eligible for execution. All three remain in Terre Haute. LISTEN: Rush to Kill podcast But once back in office, President Trump announced his intention to resume federal executions and to forcefully pursue the death penalty in future cases. And, the administration is in the process of sending the remaining 37 prisoners on death row to ADX Florence, dubbed the Alcatraz of the Rockies. It’s the U.S.’s lone super-maximum security prison and where its most dangerous criminals are held. LISTEN: Biden stopped the executions of 37 men. Trump's DOJ wants to punish them The move is designed to punish the prisoners whose sentences were commuted by Biden. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X: “We have begun transferring the monsters Biden commuted to Supermax prisons, where they will spend the rest of their lives in conditions that match their egregious crimes.” On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the federal government moving death row prisoners from Terre Haute to ADX Florence, its desire to resume executions and the state of the prisoners remaining on death row. Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected]. Guests Bill Breeden, Spiritual Advisor to Death Row Inmate Chiara Eisner, Correspondent, NPR's Investigations Unit George Hale, Reporter, WFIU News