Death row inmates start hunger strike

Five of the eight inmates on Connecticut’s death row have started a hunger strike to protest the conditions at Northern CI. The last time they went on strike was in 2005, right around the Michael Ross execution.

They said in a statement released through an anti-death penalty group that they want to be able to participate in recreation outside their cells with one another rather than alone.

Death row inmates spend 23 hours a day in their cells and have one hour of solitary recreation.

They’re also asking for additional privileges, including contact visits and use of the gym for recreation, and for a meeting with the commissioner of the Department of Correction.

The conditions are pretty tough, but I doubt anything will come of this.

Technorati Tags: connecticut, death row, hunger strike