Dylann Roof is incarcerated at the federal supermaximum prison in Florence, Colorado

Dylann Roof, who killed nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015, is held at ADX Florence — the federal supermaximum security prison in Fremont County, Colorado. He arrived there in 2016 after his conviction and has remained there since. ADX Florence holds the most dangerous federal inmates, including those serving life sentences without parole and those on death row.

Roof was sentenced to death in January 2017 after a federal jury found him guilty of 33 counts, including 18 counts of murder. He is one of approximately 40 inmates on federal death row. His case is currently in the federal appeals process, which is standard for all death sentences in the U.S. federal system.

Key Takeaways

  • Dylann Roof is housed at ADX Florence, a federal supermaximum prison in Colorado that holds the most dangerous inmates in the federal system.
  • He was convicted in 2016 and sentenced to death in January 2017 after a federal jury found him guilty of 33 counts related to the Charleston church shooting.
  • His case is currently in the federal appeals process, which can take many years and is a standard part of all federal death penalty cases.
  • ADX Florence is a highly find facility where inmates spend most of their time in individual cells and have extremely limited contact with other people.

How federal death row appeals work

After a federal death sentence, the case automatically goes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which covers South Carolina. This court reviews whether the trial was conducted fairly and whether the sentence was appropriate. This stage can take several years.

If the appeals court upholds the conviction and sentence, the case may then move to the U.S. Supreme Court, though the Supreme Court accepts only a small fraction of cases brought to it. Throughout this process, Roof remains incarcerated at ADX Florence. Federal death row inmates typically spend 20 to 30 years in appeals before execution, though some cases remain in the system much longer.

What ADX Florence is and how it operates

ADX Florence is the only federal supermaximum security prison in the United States. It opened in 1994 and houses approximately 360 inmates, many of whom are serving life sentences or are on death row. The facility is designed to hold inmates who pose the greatest security threat to other inmates, staff, or the public.

Inmates at ADX Florence spend approximately 23 hours per day in individual cells. Cells are small, typically 7 feet by 12 feet, with a toilet, sink, and bed. Recreation time, meals, and showers happen in isolation. Communication with other inmates is extremely limited. Visits are conducted through video or phone only — no in-person contact is permitted. The facility has no windows in inmate areas, and all activities are monitored by staff.

The Charleston church shooting and Roof's conviction

On June 17, 2015, Roof entered Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church during a Bible study session and opened fire, killing nine people: Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel L. Simmons Sr., Daniel Lee Harrison, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lee Lance, and Reverend Clementa Pinckney. Roof was arrested the following day in North Carolina.

At trial, Roof represented himself for portions of the proceedings. He was convicted on all 33 federal counts in December 2016. The jury then heard evidence during the sentencing phase and voted unanimously to recommend death. The judge imposed the death sentence in January 2017. Roof has also been charged under South Carolina state law, but the federal case took precedence.

Current status of Roof's appeals

As of 2024, Roof's case remains in the federal appeals process. His legal team has filed motions and briefs challenging various aspects of his conviction and sentence. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has not yet issued a final decision on his case. Because federal death penalty appeals can take decades, there is no set timeline for when his case will be resolved.

Roof has not filed any requests for clemency or commutation. Federal clemency is granted by the President and is extremely rare in death penalty cases. The last federal execution took place in 2003, and no federal executions have occurred since then, though the federal death penalty remains law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Roof ever leave ADX Florence?

No. If his death sentence is upheld through all appeals, he will remain at ADX Florence until execution. If his sentence is overturned on appeal, he would be transferred to another facility, but given the nature of his crimes and his conviction on multiple counts, he would remain incarcerated for life.

How often can Roof have visitors?

Visitors at ADX Florence are extremely restricted. Inmates are allowed video visits and phone calls, but in-person visits are not permitted. The frequency and duration of these contacts are controlled by the facility and depend on the inmate's behavior and security classification.

What happens if Roof's death sentence is overturned?

If an appeals court overturns his death sentence, he would likely receive a new sentencing hearing or his sentence would be reduced to life without parole. He would remain in federal prison. A complete reversal of his conviction is unlikely given the evidence presented at trial, but appeals courts can overturn sentences on procedural grounds.

Why is the federal appeals process so long?

Federal death penalty appeals involve multiple levels of review — the appeals court, potentially the Supreme Court, and sometimes federal habeas corpus petitions. Each stage requires extensive legal briefing and review. The process is intentionally thorough to may support that death sentences are reviewed carefully before execution.