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.^[1]^[2]

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).^[3]

In Florida, the food for the last meal must be purchased locally and the cost is limited to $40.^[4] 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.^[5]

In Texas, the tradition of customized last meals is thought to have been established around 1924.^[6] However, in September 2011, the state of Texas abolished all special meal requests after condemned prisoner Lawrence Brewer requested a large and expensive meal, but did not eat any of it, stating that he was not hungry.^[5] Since then, the prisoner's last meal is the same as that being served in the Huntsville Unit cafeteria on the day of execution.^[7]

Contemporary restrictions in the United States

Documented last meal requests

See also

References

Further reading

External links