Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
In the film, the death row inmate hits on Sister Prejean, because, Hollywood, drama, suspense. That didn't happen in real life. (Source.)
In 2014, there were 35 executions in the United States. The state with the most executions was Texas, with 9. (Source.)
Vernon Harvey debated with Prejean about the death penalty on the talk show Geraldo. He died of a heart attack in 1996, a year after Dead Man Walking the film came out. (Source.)
The first official American execution was in 1608: Captain George Kendall was executed for murder by firing squad at the Jamestown colony. (Source.)