text: why do they put a suicide watch on death row prisoners? why would you care if a man you're gonna kill, kills himself? does it spoil the fun? i also think about the death row prisoner in texas who, on the day before his execution, managed to take a drug overdose. they rushed him to the hospital, saved his life, then brought him back to prison and killed him. apparently, just to piss him off. the reason is there is always a chance that the person will get a pardon or will be found innocent at the last moment, letting someone die in jail is perceived as cruel and unusual punishment.  all prisoners are the responsibility of the prison where they are housed. it is an odd and stupid system.