Prison Reform and Death Penalty

Pope Francis has issued the following call: “All Christians and men (sic) of good will are called on to work not only for the abolition of the death penalty but also to improve prison conditions so that they respect the human dignity of people who have been deprived of their freedom.” In addition, he directly addressed legislators, saying, "I appeal to the consciences of those who govern to reach an international consensus to abolish the death penalty." 

I thought of Pope Francis' words as I wrote to a prisoner in California. This man has a life sentence for a crime he committed when he was young. He is a Christian and accepts his conditions fairly well, but my heart ached when he told me the doctor had recommended certain shoes for his feet problem, but he was denied them by prison officials. He also mentioned that he has to wait several weeks before he receives his mail and he is only allowed outside one hour a day. These are just little things, but some prisoners often have to put up with physical and verbal abuse, stealing, deprivation of food, isolation, and other injustices.  
I have contacted legislators and written letters to the editor about abolishing the death penalty. There seems to be more support for its abolition in many states, but I pray that the Supreme Court will declare it cruel and unusual punishment and make it unconstitutional in the whole country. I'm glad the pope is using his influence to rid the world of this shameful treatment.