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Got killed down there at the time. they give me the electric chair for one of them murders. they said everybody stabbed this one lieutenant. >> in 1972 the u.s. supreme court abolished capital punishment. basset's sentence was commuted to 150 years with the opportunity for parole every year. though he's been repeatedly turned down for parole, he remains one of stateville's model prisoners. he's worked in the industries department for more than 15 years. >> let's make sure it gets out to the right place. we have to number everything. >> i like it. i'm the type of guy likes to stay busy. i can't...

One by one, the trade programs fell by the wayside until today one last program remains. the stateville industries program produces office furniture, including desks, bookcases and tables. the only men who work here are long-time model prisoners. one of those men is william earl basset. basset has been incarcerated since 1963 and in stateville since 1966. originally he was serving a maximum of ten years for burglary and forgery at another illinois penitentiary called menard. >> i had a sure parole coming but a guy was messing with my food in the dining room and i just -- i went off, tried to g...

They give me the electric chair for one of them murders. they said everybody stabbed this one lieutenant. >> in 1972 the u.s. supreme court abolished capital punishment. basset's sentence was commuted to 150 years with the opportunity for parole every year. though he's been repeatedly turned down for parole, he remains one of stateville's model prisoners. he's worked in the industries department for more than 15 years. >> let's make sure it gets out to the right place. we have to number everything. >> i like it. i'm the type of guy likes to stay busy. i can't just lay around. i like to work. t...

Years old with natural life for what, for nothing. just because somebody looked at him hard or something like that? it's not worth it at all. >> way off in the far southwest corner of stateville is an almost completely abandoned area. years ago, apprentice programs flourished here. inmates learned a trade in haircutting, foundry work or tailoring. but with institutional reforms came a redirection of time, energy and money. one by one, the trade programs fell by the wayside until today one last program remains. the stateville industries program produces office furniture, including desks, bookca...

Basset has been incarcerated since 1963 and in stateville since 1966. originally he was serving a maximum of ten years for burglary and forgery at another illinois penitentiary called menard. >> i had a short parole coming but a guy was messing with my food in the dining room and i just -- i went off, tried to get him and got involved in a prison riot down there. there was three prison guards got killed down there at the time. they give me the electric chair for one of them murders. they said everybody stabbed this one lieutenant. >> in 1972 the u.s. supreme court abolished capital punishment....