Inside Death Row (Full Length Prison Documentary) | Our Life

Trevor McDonald goes inside one of America's most notorious maximum security prisons - Indiana State - where he comes face-to-face with 12 condemned men awaiting execution. In the first of two episodes, Trevor meets Benjamin Ritchie, who faces the death penalty for killing a policeman. Ritchie talks about the moments before his capture and how he felt on hearing the sentence. John Stephenson, who assassinated three people on the orders of a criminal gang, talks about friendships on death row - and survival. Paul McManus murdered his family, Trevor accompanies him on his daily visit to the prison hospital for his insulin shot. Among the wider prison population, the charismatic Ronald L Sanford committed a double murder when he was just a boy. He was committed to Indiana State at the age of 15, sentenced to 170 years inside. And there is a visit to the prison's 1950s-style barber shop.

This film was first broadcast: 17 Jan 2013

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[I_g_]

Man this documentary was something they should show this in high school so it can make kids think twice of committing a horrific crime.

[manifestgtr]

This presenter is really good…he has a way of asking these questions you didn’t know you *really* wanted an answer for.

[courtneymitchell]

I have a really close loved one facing their final days due to cancer and this documentary just unlocked so many tears for me. I can barely finish it. The line that really got me was something like,

“The sheer luxury of not knowing the date of your death”

[enbykeith]

I like that this documentary shows them as what they are: people. Some of them did unforgivable things. Some made a mistake. Some deserve to rot. But at the end of day, they’re human and they speak to them like that

[davidprice]

The "sweet old barber" kidnapped a woman and her daughter and repeatedly raped her in front of the kid while forcing her to drive away from the cops for him.

[abidababida]

The guy who was 13 when he did his crime and 15 when he got to that place is like an enigma in my mind. On the 1 hand i believe anyone who kills 2 innocent people in cold blood deserves to rot in prison for the rest of their life or be executed… BUT on the other hand there’s his age that divides me. I’m 55. I’m not the same person i was at 13. At 13 we obviously don’t know how the world works. No 13 yr old should get life without parole. We have to forgive children at some point and give them a second chance

[MrSpliffy]

I've watched this twice now. Some time apart. And I just know I'll watch it again someday. Incredible documentary. Trevor McDonald used to be the British peoples lead newscaster for the BBC. And a big part of every Brits life

[rooster_]

It's amazing to think how a split second decision can put these men in prison for life or death row.

[luisflor]

They should play this video at every high school in the country twice per year. Seriously. Great video.

[samanthagarcia]

The men’s relationships with their cats both made me emotional

[Optimistic]

After watching this documentary now I am going to enjoy every moments of my life

[evybb_xoxo]

Ron, the guy who was 13 when he committed his crime - I just want to hug him. There’s no words..

[bigal]

First guy says you eat every day and spend time with a person and then is led away to death. Exactly the same with the people you murdered.

[brokendeath]

Funny how they allow a diabetic prisioner visit the doctor dialy, but a normal person has no access to insulin or any treatment so far due to the high costs of health services.

[masonhayslip]

The size difference between the regular cells and death row cells in unbelievable. Those death row cells are massive, like a luxury hotel room for a prison cell.

[karenawagner]

Now that you have talked to the killers you should interview the families of the victims, see how they are doing and feeling.

[petermahr]

Sending a 13 year old child for 170 years in prison is absolutely insane and a big mistake.

[ebamusoffor]

This is a lot of effort put into this documentary. Thank you, sir.

[kaitlynnmountney]

Them simply writing “death row” on the jumpers in sharpie instead of having it printed on the jumpers really stuck out to me and I can’t put my finger on why.

[kidfox]

To think that when that dude went into prison at the age of 15, there was still a Soviet Union, British Empire, and Yugoslavia. At the very least, he outlived all of them.