In “Waiting to Die: Life on Death Row,” Richard M. Rossi provides a first-hand account of his daily life on Arizona’s death row. Rossi was sentenced to death in 1983 and has taken responsibility for the murder he committed. He was originally offered a plea bargain with a life sentence, but he decided to go to trial. He has been on death row for 20 years. In his book, Rossi details how prisoners survive on death row, the conditions under which they live, and the psychological toll that living under a sentence of death takes on prisoners. He also provides a straightforward account of prison policies regulating all aspects of daily life. (Vision Paperbacks, 2004) See Resources.
Citation Guide
- Death Penalty Information Center (2025, March 14). NEW RESOURCE: An Account of Life on Death Row. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-resource-an-account-of-life-on-death-row
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW RESOURCE: An Account of Life on Death Row.” Last modified March 14, 2025. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-resource-an-account-of-life-on-death-row.
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW RESOURCE: An Account of Life on Death Row.” Death Penalty Information Center, 14 Mar. 2025, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-resource-an-account-of-life-on-death-row. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.