Death row phenomenon

The death row phenomenon is the emotional distress felt by prisoners on death row. Concerns about the ethics of inflicting this distress upon prisoners have led to some legal concerns about the constitutionality of the death penalty in the United States and other countries. In relation to the use of solitary confinement with death row inmates, death row phenomenon and death row syndrome are two concepts that are gaining recognition. The death row syndrome is a distinct concept, which is the enduring psychological effects of the death row phenomenon, which merely refers to the triggers of the syndrome. There are also those sentenced to death in countries with a moratorium on executions, for whom no term has been theorized, but for which there are also a number of psychological ramifications.^[1]

Harrison and Tamony define death row phenomenon as the harmful effects of death row conditions,^[2] while death row syndrome is the consequent manifestation of psychological illness that can occur as a result of death row phenomenon.