---
title: 'NEW VOICES: Former Georgia Warden Discusses Effects of Performing Executions'
description: 'Dr. Allen Ault, the former warden for Georgia’s executions, recently spoke about the lingering psychological effects of carrying out the death penalty.'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices-former-georgia-warden-discusses-effects-of-performing-executions'
section: news
date: '2014-02-26T16:39:58-05:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:37:15-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

! **Dr. Allen Ault**, the former warden for **Georgia**'s executions, recently spoke about the lingering psychological effects of carrying out the death penalty. Ault, who retired in 1995, said, "I still have nightmares. \[Execution is\] the most premeditated form of murder you can possibly imagine and it stays in your psyche forever." He said he felt guilt after the electrocution of a mentally disabled juvenile offender, who developed a deep sense of contrition during his 17 years on death row and whose last words to Ault were "please forgive me." "No one has the right to ask a public servant to take on a life-long sentence of nagging doubt, shame and guilt," Ault said. He also said the death penalty was plagued with racial disparities.

(S. Sackur, "[Electric chair haunts US former executions chief](https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26273051)," BBC News, February 22, 2014). See **[New Voices](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices)** and [**Race**](/race-and-death-penalty).