[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.16,0:00:02.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two weeks ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.56,0:00:07.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was sitting at the kitchen table\Nwith my wife Katya,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.96,0:00:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we were talking about\Nwhat I was going to talk about today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.04,0:00:15.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have an 11-year-old son;\Nhis name is Lincoln.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.72,0:00:19.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was sitting at the same table,\Ndoing his math homework.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.24,0:00:23.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And during a pause\Nin my conversation with Katya,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.84,0:00:25.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I looked over at Lincoln
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.60,0:00:28.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was suddenly thunderstruck
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.64,0:00:32.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by a recollection of a client of mine.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.08,0:00:35.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My client was a guy named Will.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.88,0:00:38.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was from North Texas.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.92,0:00:40.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He never knew his father very well,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.68,0:00:45.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because his father left his mom\Nwhile she was pregnant with him.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.52,0:00:50.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, he was destined\Nto be raised by a single mom,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.72,0:00:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which might have been all right
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.22,0:00:56.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except that this particular single mom\Nwas a paranoid schizophrenic,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.84,0:01:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when Will was five years old,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.80,0:01:02.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she tried to kill him\Nwith a butcher knife.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.28,0:01:09.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She was taken away by authorities\Nand placed in a psychiatric hospital,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.36,0:01:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so for the next several years\NWill lived with his older brother,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.64,0:01:15.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until he committed suicide\Nby shooting himself through the heart.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.08,0:01:21.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And after that Will bounced around\Nfrom one family member to another,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.92,0:01:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until, by the time he was nine years old,\Nhe was essentially living on his own.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.96,0:01:29.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That morning that I was sitting\Nwith Katya and Lincoln,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.60,0:01:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I looked at my son, and I realized\Nthat when my client, Will, was his age,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.48,0:01:39.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he'd been living by himself for two years.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.64,0:01:43.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Will eventually joined a gang
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.00,0:01:48.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and committed a number\Nof very serious crimes,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.40,0:01:50.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including, most seriously of all,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.76,0:01:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a horrible, tragic murder.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.44,0:02:00.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Will was ultimately executed\Nas punishment for that crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.60,0:02:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I don't want to talk today\Nabout the morality of capital punishment.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.48,0:02:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I certainly think that my client\Nshouldn't have been executed,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.36,0:02:15.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what I would like to do today instead
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.28,0:02:20.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is talk about the death penalty\Nin a way I've never done before,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.36,0:02:24.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a way that is\Nentirely noncontroversial.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.60,0:02:27.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that's possible,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.28,0:02:31.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because there is a corner\Nof the death penalty debate --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.52,0:02:33.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe the most important corner --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.84,0:02:36.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where everybody agrees,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.60,0:02:40.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the most ardent\Ndeath penalty supporters
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.88,0:02:46.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the most vociferous abolitionists\Nare on exactly the same page.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.52,0:02:49.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the corner I want to explore.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.24,0:02:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before I do that, though,\NI want to spend a couple of minutes
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.16,0:02:57.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,telling you how\Na death penalty case unfolds,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.76,0:02:59.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then I want to tell you two lessons
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.96,0:03:05.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I have learned over the last 20 years\Nas a death penalty lawyer
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.04,0:03:09.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from watching well more\Nthan a hundred cases unfold in this way.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.68,0:03:15.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can think of a death penalty case\Nas a story that has four chapters.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.96,0:03:20.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first chapter of every case\Nis exactly the same, and it is tragic.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.04,0:03:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It begins with the murder\Nof an innocent human being,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.96,0:03:26.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's followed by a trial
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.72,0:03:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the murderer\Nis convicted and sent to death row,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.72,0:03:33.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that death sentence is ultimately\Nupheld by the state appellate court.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.64,0:03:37.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second chapter consists\Nof a complicated legal proceeding
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.56,0:03:40.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,known as a state habeas corpus appeal.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.20,0:03:44.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The third chapter is an even\Nmore complicated legal proceeding
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.16,0:03:46.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,known as a federal\Nhabeas corpus proceeding.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.68,0:03:50.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the fourth chapter is one\Nwhere a variety of things can happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.52,0:03:53.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The lawyers might file\Na clemency petition,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.04,0:03:55.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they might initiate\Neven more complex litigation,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.56,0:03:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or they might not do anything at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.04,0:04:01.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that fourth chapter\Nalways ends with an execution.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.96,0:04:07.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I started representing\Ndeath row inmates more than 20 years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.12,0:04:09.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people on death row\Ndid not have a right to a lawyer
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.80,0:04:13.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in either the second\Nor the fourth chapter of this story.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.48,0:04:15.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were on their own.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.12,0:04:17.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it wasn't until the late 1980s
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.56,0:04:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they acquired a right to a lawyer\Nduring the third chapter of the story.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.44,0:04:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what all of these death row inmates\Nhad to do was rely on volunteer lawyers
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.00,0:04:29.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to handle their legal proceedings.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.36,0:04:33.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problem is that there were\Nway more guys on death row
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.76,0:04:35.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than there were lawyers
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.04,0:04:38.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who had both the interest\Nand the expertise to work on these cases.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.80,0:04:40.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so inevitably,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.48,0:04:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lawyers drifted to cases\Nthat were already in chapter four --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.44,0:04:45.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that makes sense, of course.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.84,0:04:47.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those are the cases that are most urgent;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.84,0:04:50.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those are the guys\Nwho are closest to being executed.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.35,0:04:52.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of these lawyers were successful;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.19,0:04:54.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they managed to get\Nnew trials for their clients.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.52,0:04:57.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Others of them managed\Nto extend the lives of their clients,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.40,0:05:00.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes by years, sometimes by months.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.32,0:05:02.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the one thing that didn't happen
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.76,0:05:06.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that there was never\Na serious and sustained decline
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.72,0:05:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the number of annual\Nexecutions in Texas.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.52,0:05:11.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, as you can see from this graph,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.48,0:05:14.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the time that the Texas\Nexecution apparatus got efficient
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.88,0:05:16.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the mid- to late 1990s,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.96,0:05:18.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there have only been a couple of years
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.79,0:05:22.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the number of annual\Nexecutions dipped below 20.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.92,0:05:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a typical year in Texas,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.96,0:05:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're averaging about two people a month.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.88,0:05:33.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some years in Texas,\Nwe've executed close to 40 people,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.08,0:05:38.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this number has never significantly\Ndeclined over the last 15 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.12,0:05:41.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And yet, at the same time\Nthat we continue to execute
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.52,0:05:43.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the same number\Nof people every year,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.80,0:05:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the number of people who we're\Nsentencing to death on an annual basis
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.68,0:05:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has dropped rather steeply.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.96,0:05:51.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we have this paradox,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.92,0:05:56.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is that the number\Nof annual executions has remained high
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.16,0:06:00.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the number of new\Ndeath sentences has gone down.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.20,0:06:01.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is that?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.60,0:06:04.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can't be attributed\Nto a decline in the murder rate,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.48,0:06:08.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the murder\Nrate has not declined nearly so steeply
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.08,0:06:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the red line\Non that graph has gone down.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.08,0:06:13.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What has happened instead
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.44,0:06:17.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that juries have started to sentence\Nmore and more people to prison
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.76,0:06:21.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the rest of their lives\Nwithout the possibility of parole,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.08,0:06:23.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather than sending them\Nto the execution chamber.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.88,0:06:26.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why has that happened?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.56,0:06:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It hasn't happened\Nbecause of a dissolution
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.72,0:06:31.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of popular support for the death penalty.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.92,0:06:34.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Death penalty opponents\Ntake great solace in the fact
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.80,0:06:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that death penalty support in Texas\Nis at an all-time low.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.28,0:06:41.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you know what all-time low\Nin Texas means?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.44,0:06:43.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It means that it's in the low 60 percent.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.68,0:06:46.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, that's really good\Ncompared to the mid-1980s,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.48,0:06:49.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it was in excess of 80 percent,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.16,0:06:52.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we can't explain\Nthe decline in death sentences
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.08,0:06:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the affinity for life\Nwithout the possibility of parole
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.32,0:06:57.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by an erosion of support\Nfor the death penalty,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.72,0:06:59.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because people still support\Nthe death penalty.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.96,0:07:02.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's happened to cause this phenomenon?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.32,0:07:07.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's happened is that lawyers\Nwho represent death row inmates
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.00,0:07:11.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have shifted their focus\Nto earlier and earlier chapters
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.60,0:07:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the death penalty story.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.56,0:07:16.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So 25 years ago,\Nthey focused on chapter four.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.92,0:07:19.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they went from\Nchapter four 25 years ago
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.28,0:07:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to chapter three in the late 1980s.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.28,0:07:24.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they went from chapter three\Nin the late 1980s
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.80,0:07:27.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to chapter two in the mid-1990s.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.24,0:07:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And beginning in the mid- to late 1990s,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.32,0:07:32.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they began to focus\Non chapter one of the story.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.32,0:07:35.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you might think\Nthat this decline in death sentences
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.24,0:07:37.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the increase\Nin the number of life sentences
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.52,0:07:39.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a good thing or a bad thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.04,0:07:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't want to have a conversation\Nabout that today.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.56,0:07:44.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All that I want to tell you\Nis that the reason that this has happened
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.84,0:07:47.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is because death penalty lawyers\Nhave understood
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.84,0:07:50.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the earlier you intervene in a case,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.63,0:07:54.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the greater the likelihood that\Nyou're going to save your client's life.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.52,0:07:56.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the first thing I've learned.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.44,0:07:58.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's the second thing I learned:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.56,0:08:02.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My client Will was\Nnot the exception to the rule;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.16,0:08:05.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was the rule.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.20,0:08:09.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I sometimes say, if you tell me\Nthe name of a death row inmate --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.80,0:08:11.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doesn't matter what state he's in,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.48,0:08:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doesn't matter\Nif I've ever met him before --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.64,0:08:15.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll write his biography for you.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.04,0:08:18.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And eight out of 10 times,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.44,0:08:22.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the details of that biography\Nwill be more or less accurate.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.08,0:08:26.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason for that is that 80 percent\Nof the people on death row
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.76,0:08:30.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are people who came from the same sort\Nof dysfunctional family that Will did.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.00,0:08:33.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eighty percent of the people on death row
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.20,0:08:36.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are people who had exposure\Nto the juvenile justice system.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.04,0:08:40.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the second lesson\Nthat I've learned.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.32,0:08:45.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now we're right on the cusp of that corner
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.28,0:08:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where everybody's going to agree.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.24,0:08:50.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People in this room might disagree
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.04,0:08:52.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about whether Will\Nshould have been executed,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.72,0:08:55.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I think everybody would agree
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.08,0:08:58.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the best possible\Nversion of his story
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.72,0:09:02.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would be a story\Nwhere no murder ever occurs.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.48,0:09:05.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do we do that?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.52,0:09:11.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When our son Lincoln was working\Non that math problem two weeks ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.28,0:09:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was a big, gnarly problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.60,0:09:17.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he was learning how,\Nwhen you have a big old gnarly problem,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.08,0:09:21.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes the solution\Nis to slice it into smaller problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.04,0:09:22.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what we do for most problems --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.92,0:09:25.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in math, in physics,\Neven in social policy --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.08,0:09:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we slice them into smaller,\Nmore manageable problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.40,0:09:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But every once in a while,\Nas Dwight Eisenhower said,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.16,0:09:35.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the way you solve a problem\Nis to make it bigger.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.56,0:09:39.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The way we solve this problem
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.96,0:09:43.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to make the issue\Nof the death penalty bigger.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.80,0:09:46.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have to say, all right.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.16,0:09:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have these four chapters\Nof a death penalty story,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.92,0:09:54.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what happens before that story begins?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.52,0:09:58.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can we intervene\Nin the life of a murderer
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.40,0:10:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before he's a murderer?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.24,0:10:07.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What options do we have\Nto nudge that person off of the path
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.00,0:10:11.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is going to lead\Nto a result that everybody --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.40,0:10:14.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,death penalty supporters\Nand death penalty opponents --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.20,0:10:17.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,still think is a bad result:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.36,0:10:19.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the murder of an innocent human being?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.24,0:10:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, sometimes people say\Nthat something isn't rocket science.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.84,0:10:31.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And by that, what they mean\Nis rocket science is really complicated
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.16,0:10:34.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this problem that we're\Ntalking about now is really simple.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.68,0:10:36.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well that's rocket science;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.12,0:10:41.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's the mathematical expression\Nfor the thrust created by a rocket.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.04,0:10:45.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we're talking about today\Nis just as complicated.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.48,0:10:50.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we're talking about today\Nis also rocket science.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.80,0:10:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My client Will and 80 percent\Nof the people on death row
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.80,0:10:59.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had five chapters in their lives
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.80,0:11:04.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that came before the four chapters\Nof the death penalty story.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.04,0:11:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think of these five chapters\Nas points of intervention,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.72,0:11:09.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,places in their lives
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.40,0:11:12.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when our society\Ncould've intervened in their lives
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.00,0:11:15.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and nudged them off of the path\Nthat they were on
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.00,0:11:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that created a consequence that we all --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.64,0:11:21.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,death penalty supporters\Nor death penalty opponents --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.56,0:11:23.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,say was a bad result.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.84,0:11:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, during each of these five chapters:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.52,0:11:28.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when his mother was pregnant with him;
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.48,0:11:30.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in his early childhood years;
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.56,0:11:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when he was in elementary school;
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.16,0:11:34.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when he was in middle school\Nand then high school;
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.53,0:11:36.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when he was\Nin the juvenile justice system --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.84,0:11:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,during each of those five chapters,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.54,0:11:41.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there were a wide variety of things\Nthat society could have done.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.62,0:11:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, if we just imagine
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.24,0:11:45.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there are five\Ndifferent modes of intervention,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.96,0:11:50.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the way that society could intervene\Nin each of those five chapters,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.20,0:11:52.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we could mix and match them\Nany way we want,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.48,0:11:56.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are 3,000 -- more than 3,000 --\Npossible strategies
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.52,0:11:57.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we could embrace
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.84,0:12:01.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to nudge kids like Will\Noff of the path that they're on.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.16,0:12:07.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm not standing here today\Nwith the solution.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.08,0:12:10.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the fact that we\Nstill have a lot to learn,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.52,0:12:15.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that doesn't mean\Nthat we don't know a lot already.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.04,0:12:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know from experience in other states
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.84,0:12:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there are a wide variety\Nof modes of intervention
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.64,0:12:23.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we could be using in Texas,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.28,0:12:26.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in every other state\Nthat isn't using them,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.08,0:12:29.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to prevent a consequence\Nthat we all agree is bad.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.40,0:12:31.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll just mention a few.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.96,0:12:36.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I won't talk today\Nabout reforming the legal system.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.96,0:12:38.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's probably a topic
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.24,0:12:41.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is best reserved\Nfor a room full of lawyers and judges.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.72,0:12:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, let me talk\Nabout a couple of modes of intervention
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.72,0:12:47.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can all help accomplish,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.84,0:12:50.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they are modes of intervention\Nthat will come about
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.63,0:12:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when legislators and policymakers,\Nwhen taxpayers and citizens,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.72,0:12:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,agree that that's\Nwhat we ought to be doing
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.80,0:12:59.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's how we ought\Nto be spending our money.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.16,0:13:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We could be providing early childhood care
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.20,0:13:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for economically disadvantaged\Nand otherwise troubled kids,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.24,0:13:09.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we could be doing it for free.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.76,0:13:13.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we could be nudging kids like Will\Noff of the path that we're on.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.96,0:13:16.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are other states\Nthat do that, but we don't.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.60,0:13:20.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We could be providing special schools,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.20,0:13:22.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at both the high school level\Nand the middle school level,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.00,0:13:25.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but even in K-5,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.16,0:13:28.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that target economically\Nand otherwise disadvantaged kids,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.16,0:13:32.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and particularly kids who have had\Nexposure to the juvenile justice system.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.64,0:13:34.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are a handful\Nof states that do that;
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.80,0:13:36.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Texas doesn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.92,0:13:40.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's one other thing we can be doing --\Nwell, there are a bunch of other things --
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.96,0:13:43.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's one other thing\Nthat I'm going to mention,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.32,0:13:46.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is going to be the only\Ncontroversial thing that I say today.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.63,0:13:49.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We could be intervening\Nmuch more aggressively
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.00,0:13:53.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into dangerously dysfunctional homes,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.20,0:13:55.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and getting kids out of them
Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.16,0:13:58.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before their moms pick up butcher knives\Nand threaten to kill them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.60,0:14:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we're going to do that,\Nwe need a place to put them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.56,0:14:06.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if we do all of those things,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.24,0:14:08.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some kids are going\Nto fall through the cracks
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.44,0:14:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're going to end up\Nin that last chapter
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.72,0:14:12.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before the murder story begins,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.28,0:14:14.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're going to end up\Nin the juvenile justice system.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.92,0:14:17.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even if that happens,\Nit's not yet too late.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.60,0:14:21.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's still time to nudge them,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.40,0:14:25.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we think about nudging them\Nrather than just punishing them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.40,0:14:27.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are two professors\Nin the Northeast --
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.52,0:14:29.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one at Yale and one at Maryland --
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.20,0:14:33.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they set up a school\Nthat is attached to a juvenile prison.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.88,0:14:36.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the kids are in prison,\Nbut they go to school
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.24,0:14:38.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from eight in the morning\Nuntil four in the afternoon.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.84,0:14:40.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, it was logistically difficult.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.56,0:14:43.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They had to recruit teachers\Nwho wanted to teach inside a prison,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.84,0:14:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they had to establish strict separation
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.72,0:14:48.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the people who work at the school\Nand the prison authorities,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.00,0:14:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and most dauntingly of all,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.36,0:14:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they needed to invent a new curriculum\Nbecause you know what?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.28,0:14:56.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People don't come into and out of prison\Non a semester basis.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.37,0:14:58.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.16,0:15:00.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they did all those things.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:01.24,0:15:03.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what do all of these things\Nhave in common?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.00,0:15:08.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What all of these things have in common\Nis that they cost money.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.32,0:15:12.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of the people in the room\Nmight be old enough
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.72,0:15:17.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to remember the guy\Non the old oil filter commercial.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.16,0:15:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He used to say, "Well, you can pay me now\Nor you can pay me later."
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.04,0:15:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we're doing\Nin the death penalty system
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.60,0:15:30.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is we're paying later.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.88,0:15:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the thing is\Nthat for every 15,000 dollars
Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.80,0:15:37.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we spend intervening
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.00,0:15:41.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the lives of economically\Nand otherwise disadvantaged kids
Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.76,0:15:43.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in those earlier chapters,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:43.08,0:15:47.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we save 80,000 dollars\Nin crime-related costs down the road.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.80,0:15:53.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if you don't agree that\Nthere's a moral imperative that we do it,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:54.36,0:15:56.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it just makes economic sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:58.20,0:16:01.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to tell you about the last\Nconversation that I had with Will.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:02.32,0:16:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was the day that\Nhe was going to be executed,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.68,0:16:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we were just talking.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.12,0:16:12.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was nothing left to do in his case.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.28,0:16:15.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we were talking about his life.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:15.76,0:16:19.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he was talking first about his dad,\Nwho he hardly knew, who had died,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:20.36,0:16:24.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then about his mom,\Nwho he did know, who was still alive.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:25.88,0:16:27.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I said to him,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:28.60,0:16:29.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I know the story.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.60,0:16:31.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've read the records.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.52,0:16:34.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that she tried to kill you."
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.92,0:16:36.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said, "But I've always wondered
Dialogue: 0,0:16:36.56,0:16:39.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether you really\Nactually remember that."
Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.56,0:16:43.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said, "I don't remember anything\Nfrom when I was five years old.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:43.60,0:16:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe you just remember\Nsomebody telling you."
Dialogue: 0,0:16:46.40,0:16:48.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he looked at me and he leaned forward,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:48.80,0:16:50.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he said, "Professor," --
Dialogue: 0,0:16:50.20,0:16:52.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he'd known me for 12 years,\Nhe still called me Professor.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:52.92,0:16:55.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "Professor,\NI don't mean any disrespect by this,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:55.96,0:16:58.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when your mama\Npicks up a butcher knife
Dialogue: 0,0:16:58.44,0:17:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that looks bigger than you are,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:00.84,0:17:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and chases you through the house\Nscreaming she's going to kill you,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:04.64,0:17:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you have to lock yourself\Nin the bathroom
Dialogue: 0,0:17:06.96,0:17:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lean against the door
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.24,0:17:10.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and holler for help\Nuntil the police get there,"
Dialogue: 0,0:17:12.00,0:17:13.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he looked at me and he said,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:13.96,0:17:16.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"that's something you don't forget."
Dialogue: 0,0:17:17.48,0:17:20.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope there's one thing\Nyou all won't forget:
Dialogue: 0,0:17:20.20,0:17:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In between the time\Nyou arrived here this morning
Dialogue: 0,0:17:22.56,0:17:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the time we break for lunch,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:24.16,0:17:27.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are going to be\Nfour homicides in the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:27.64,0:17:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're going to devote\Nenormous social resources
Dialogue: 0,0:17:30.84,0:17:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to punishing the people\Nwho commit those crimes,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:33.12,0:17:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's appropriate
Dialogue: 0,0:17:34.36,0:17:36.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we should punish\Npeople who do bad things.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:36.76,0:17:39.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But three of those crimes are preventable.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:39.88,0:17:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we make the picture bigger
Dialogue: 0,0:17:43.16,0:17:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and devote our attention\Nto the earlier chapters,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:47.36,0:17:50.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then we're never going\Nto write the first sentence
Dialogue: 0,0:17:50.84,0:17:52.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that begins the death penalty story.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:53.68,0:17:54.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:54.92,0:17:56.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)