As of June 10, 2012, 401 inmates are awaiting execution.
Of the 108 inmates awaiting death, 46 are black.
California, with 640 inmates awaiting execution, has the largest death row in the nation.
This has allowed quicker processing of cases, and so about 200 fewer inmates than officials had expected are awaiting trial.
But in Jackson the inmates released were awaiting trial.
Sentenced inmates awaiting release are given scant help in finding jobs and places to live, department officials say.
A 40-year-old inmate awaiting trial on a conspiracy charge was more appreciative.
Most inmates are serving short sentences or awaiting trial.
Half of the inmates awaiting execution at the end of 1987 had been on death row for more than 3.5 years.
We've got almost 2,000 death-row inmates awaiting appeal decisions with dozens of new ones every day.