"I've got problems and if you sentence me to additional time, I'm going to compound them"

This quote by Gary Gilmore suggests that he is already facing some tough problems and that if he is sentenced to extra time, his problems will just become worse. This might be interpreted as a plea for leniency, as he is asking the court to consider the consequences of their decision. He is most likely describing the truth that if he is sentenced to more time, he will be far from his family and friends for longer, and his problems will end up being harder to manage. He may also be referring to the fact that if he is sentenced to more time, he will need to deal with the extreme truths of prison life, such as overcrowding, violence, and minimal resources. Eventually, this quote is a plea for understanding and compassion, as Gary Gilmore is asking the court to think about the repercussions of their choice and to take into account the difficulties he is currently dealing with.