Reverend Joe Ingle may have spent more time with condemned prisoners in the US than anyone else.
At 78, he’s dedicated over 50 years to supporting death row inmates. One can only imagine that he’s learnt a thing or two during that time. For one, the clergyman can answer a common question regarding the idea that inmates who have been condemned to die often have the same last request.
As for his personal views, Ingle is firm in his belief that nobody deserves to die, irrespective of what they may have been convicted of. He’s also of the opinion that everyone deserves friendship when they reach the end of their time on death row.
Of his motivation for doing what he does, Ingle told The Sun: “John was like a brother to me, and his case was coming down to the wire.
“A man called Chaplain Savage – his real name – asked John if he would pray with him.”
The inmate in question (John) didn’t want to spend his final moments with Savage, but instead requested Ingle. Ingle recalled that John was refused a final statement, and since then Ingle has “devoted his life to trying to oppose and defeat that system.”
The incident, Ingle claims, made him realize that death row is “just a killing and caging meeting.”
For the past fifty years, the reverend has become a “spiritual advisor” to hundreds of condemned inmates, which has meant a good deal of time sitting through the final hours of men who are about to die.
As per reports, a large number of those on death row have requested that Joe be the last person they spend their time with.
“It’s a gift, but it’s a painful gift,” Joe said.
“It’s an honor that this person trusts you enough. Almost always they are my friend.”
After having worked for five decades with death row inmates, Ingle has been diagnosed with PTSD. He is subsequently in the process of going through trauma therapy.
“I’m in the process of putting myself back together. I have paid a heavy price. I’m sitting here crying right now,” he said.
Speaking on his experiences with death row inmates, Joe said: “I’m going in there just to be with them, to be their friend. If they want to talk about religion, we’ll talk about it. But I’m there to love them and care for them. That’s my whole role.
“And it’s heartbreaking.”
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