Last meal

Contemporary restrictions in the United States

Contrary to the common belief that all last meal requests, regardless of their complexity, must be fulfilled, various restrictions are in place over what can be requested.

In the United States, most states give the meal a day or two before the actual execution and now use the euphemism "special meal". Alcohol and tobacco are usually, but not always, denied. Unorthodox or unavailable requests can be replaced with similar substitutes. Some states place tight restrictions. Sometimes, a prisoner asks to share the last meal with another inmate (as Francis Crowley did with John Resko in 1932) or has the meal distributed among other inmates (as requested by Raymond Fernandez in 1951).

In Florida, the food for the last meal must be purchased locally and the cost is limited to $40. In Oklahoma, the cost is limited to $25. In Louisiana, the prison warden traditionally joins the condemned prisoner for the last meal. On one occasion, the warden paid for an inmate's lobster dinner.

In September 2011, Texas abolished its long-standing tradition of customized last meals after Lawrence Brewer requested a large, expensive meal and refused to eat any of it. Consequently, condemned prisoners in Texas are now restricted to the standard meal provided in the Huntsville Unit cafeteria on the day of their execution.

Documented last meal requests

References

References

1. Mikkelson, David. (October 30, 2014). "Death Row Inmate Asks for a Child As His Last Meal, Texas DOC Plan to Grant Request?".
2. Beam, Christopher. (November 10, 2009). "I'll Have 24 Tacos and the Filet Mignon". [[Slate (magazine).
3. (1983). "The Book of Lists #3". Bantam.
4. "Death Row Fact Sheet". Florida Department of Corrections.
5. Turner, Allan. (2011-09-23). "Last-meal requests come to an end on Texas death row". Houston Chronicle.
6. (2011-09-22). "Last-meal requests off death row menu". San Antonio Express-News.
7. (24 April 2015). "Death Row the Final 24 Hours Documentary & Discovery HD Channel Official".