Collaborating with a Killer: The Unique Perspective of Prison Life from a Man on Death Row Gordon A. Crews, Ph.D. and Angela D. Crews, Ph.D. Marshall University (WV) Southern Criminal Justice Association, Nashville, Tennessee, 2011

Initial Interest SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 20112

Living In Prison: A History of the Correctional System with an Insider's View (2004) By Stephen Stanko, Wayne Gillespie, Gordon A. Crews 3 I996, lead author (Stanko) was incarcerated for ABIK & kidnapping of his then-girlfriend 1999: Stanko sent manuscript to Anderson Publishing 2000: Forwarded to Greenwood Press I was nominated as an “academic” to assist Stanko 2002: Initial draft submitted, but rejected by editor 2004: Book completed & Stanko released from prison 2005: Two murders committed by Stanko (on run 5 days) SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 2011

Sudden Popularity of “Living in Prison” 4 April 7, 2005: Book sells for $35.00 April 8, 2005: Book sells on EBay for $ April 8-12: Book reported stolen from libraries all across South Carolina SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 2011

Personal Hysteria Saturday, April 9 National hysteria hit me 15 hours away with police contacting me and my campus!!! Sunday, April 10 Boston/New York – Fox News – CNN: American Morning – Anderson Cooper 360 – Nancy Grace – CNN – MSNBC – Greta Van Susteren – Good Morning America Producer from The Today Show called to say that if he killed again and/or was gone longer than a week, they would have me on! SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 20115

6 Asked what provokes him to act out violently, Stanko says, "Usually it's when I'm confronted with violence. I mean, the only times that it's ever happened is when I was confronted with violence.” Stephen Christopher Stanko SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 2011

Watch Mommy Die Mass market paperback by Michael Benson Michael Benson May pages $4.58-$6.99 7SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 2011

Our Study SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 20118

Life Lessons from Death Row: Words of Wisdom While Waiting to Die in U.S. Prisons Purpose of Research Scholarly Rationale Procedure Qualitative "Life Lessons" Quantitative Survey of Coping Purpose of Analysis Qualitative Analysis Potential Benefits SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 20119

Problems Encountered SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) Issues Encountered – Legally Effective Informed Consent – Risk versus Benefit – Permission from Prisons – Academic Freedom? SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August

“Behind the Scenes”: Unique Access to a Unique Perspective SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August Have a number of writings in the works …

Stanko's Current Life on Death Row (Since 2006) Awaiting Execution Lieber Correctional Institution – Stephen Stanko is currently on Death row at Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, South Carolina currently stayed for appeals – A date of execution was set for October, 2007, but is currently stayed for appeals – If the execution does take place, he will have a choice of the Electric chair or Lethal injection – He is the first person to be sentenced to death in Georgetown County in nearly 11 years 13SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August 2011

"Behind-The-Scenes" Personal Narrative (Stephen C. Stanko) Moving From Jail To Prison Correctional Classification The Prison Environment Daily Life in Prison Surviving in Prison SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August

Current Efforts and Plans SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August

Current Efforts Research Study – Death Row Study (Survey of 3200 on Death Row) New Book(s) – “The Convict Cookbook” (200+ Recipes in cells) – “The Complete Idiot's Guide to Prison Life & Death” Crews, Crews, & Stanko Book Proposal Submitted July 2011 SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August

Any questions? SCJA Nashville, TN: Crews & Crews, August