While previous literature on the emotional effects of capital punishment has examined the experiences of the family members of victims and the family members of accused or convicted capital murderers, little research has been done on the specific experiences of those who are required to interact with the capital punishment system via their professions. The literature has not adequately addressed how the structure of their professional working life and job requirements affect their emotional reactions. This research begins to explore portions of the gap in the research and attempts to open a pathway for a more in-depth investigation into their experiences and how they are affected emotionally by their work in the capital punishment sector within the United States. Using original qualitative interview data (N=10), this research examines different ways professionals in the sector experience emotions related to the capital punishment process. Findings show that the professionals perform emotional labor and emotional management, which can result in long-term emotional exhaustion and burnout. Findings also indicate that these professionals harness their emotions for internal motivation.

Keywords: emotional effects, emotional exhaustion, burnout, capital punishment, death penalty