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Interviews
with the Condemned
Interview no.24 (2007-02-27)
Jack Friend was kind enough to answer our questions for the 24th interview in our series of interviews. Jack is housed at the row for the condemned at Californa's San Quentin prison. Click here to visit Jack's profile. We like to thank Jack for his contribution.
Personality: Name:
Jack Wayne Friend
1: Question:
Where were you born and raised? Answer:
I was born in
2: Question: Will you share with us what it was like for you growing up? (Did you have a pet, a favorite game, hiding place, or favorite toy? Were you raised by both parents, a single parent or relative?) Answer:
3: Question:
Do you have a favorite childhood memory? If so, what is it? Answer:
My favorite memory is of times when my dad got paid
from work when he worked, that is because there would be enough food to
eat. I also liked it when we went to my aunts house cause they had food
and a pool we could swim in. My aunt gave us cousins old clothes and
presents for Christmas.
4: Question:
Did you like school? If so, share with us your favorite memory from your
school years. Answer:
I did not like school because it was always a new
school and I was always the new kid. I also didn’t like being hungry
at school all the time.
5: Question:
What person or event impacted you most as a child? Answer:
Old man Ralph stopped kids from beating me up and
treated me like an adult let me smoke cigarettes and taught me a lot of
things.
6: Question:
What hobbies or activities did you participate in while growing up, e.g.
scouting, sports, etc. Answer: Never could afford sports or hobbies and we moved too much.
7: Question:
What was your first job? Please describe your duties/responsibilities
and whether or not you liked the job. Answer:
My first job was when I quit school and worked under a
friend at a factory. My second job was at Earl Schibe sanding cars for
painting, I liked it. My most favorite job was construction labor for a
contractor who specialized in foundations repairing them, removing and
replacing them under existing buildings.
8: Question:
As a child or teenager, what did you want to do when you grew up? Why? Answer: I didn’t know.
9: Question: Do you have a favorite movie or book? Please elaborate. Answer:
10: Question:
Where was the most beautiful or special place that you can remember
having visited? Please describe it. Answer:
11: Question: What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you? Answer: Nothing that I can remember.
12: Question:
What job or occupation did you have prior to your incarceration? Were
you employed at the time of your arrest? Answer:
I was employed as an construction labor prior to my
incarceration and at time of my arrest it was my favorite job.
13: Question:
Were you involved with drugs or alcohol prior to your incarceration? If
so, please share the effects this had on your life. Answer:
I tried
drugs but didn’t like them, I drink a lot but I was raised around it
and never knew better life.
14: Question: What do you miss most about the outside world and why? Answer: I miss the good feeling of getting paid $ for work done and I really miss the change to be with Antonella.
15: Question: What is the one thing you regret most? Answer:
That I
didn’t help stop the fight more and didn’t call police for help.
16: Question:
Do
you have any strong spiritual or religious beliefs? If so do they
influence how you view the future? Answer:
Yes, I believe there just has to be a God and that
there is good in people. It’s just hard to find these days, especially
from prison.
17: Question: How important is it for you to have contact with your family, friends and/or the outside world? Please elaborate. Answer:
18: Question:
Do you remember your first thoughts
when hearing the jury’s verdict of death as your sentence? Will you
share this experience with us, e.g. your thoughts, feelings, reactions? Answer:
My first thought was that it couldn’t be right, I
didn’t do anything. I felt lost and alone.
19: Question:
What is a typical day like for you on
death row? Answer:
20: Question:
Do you feel that capital punishment
serves as a deterrent? Yes/No Please elaborate on your answer. Answer:
No, capital punishment does not serve as deterrent at
all or the murder rate would not be as high as it is.
21: Question:
If you could change one thing in the
world today, what would it be and why? Answer:
I would want there to be no more war because life is
precious.
22: Question:
If you could go back in time, where
and to what date would you travel and why? Answer:
I would go back to the night the crime happened and not
get into helping someone out to point where they killed someone else and
falsely blamed me for it.
23: Question:
What has been the most important and
life-altering event you have experienced? Answer:
Meeting Antonella. I was ready for state supplied
suicide by waiving my appeals when she came into my life and gave me a
reason to live.
24: Question:
What is the most important thing that
you want our visitors to know about you? Answer:
That I’m not responsible for the crimes I am on death
row for and that my life is only lived for chance of being set free so I
can be with Antonella.
25: Question: If you have anything else that you
would like included as a part of this interview, please share it with us
now. Answer:
That I would appreciate any help of cards, letters or
other.
Back
to interview introduction page. Webmaster’s note: I have tried to type the handwritten answers as complete and correct as possible. There is always a possibility that a typo or so slips in. Please send an e-mail when you come across them. Thank you!
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