Civic Register
| 3.16.18

States Turn To Other Methods For Death Penalty Executions

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What’s the story?

Do you know how the death penalty is administered in your state, or in other states around the country? Some of the methods may surprise you.

Lethal injection is the primary method in all 31 states that still practice the death penalty. However, many states have run into roadblocks due to a shortage of the approved chemicals, in part because of drugmaker’s opposition to the death penalty.

Oklahoma announced Wednesday that it would be the first state to turn to another method as their primary method -- nitrogen gas. The state, reports the Washington Post, hasn’t held an execution since 2015, when it was revealed that executions via lethal injection were botched due to the wrong drugs being used.

The state is still committed to the practice, however, so they moved this week to make nitrogen gas their primary method of execution. State officials say they are trying to find a balance between the Constitution and the will of voters. Critics point out that the method is untested and no protocol is in place. They question whether officials should be able to "learn on the job" with prisoners as test subjects.

What other methods are used in different states when lethal injection is not possible?

  • Electrocution: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

  • Gas Chamber: Arizona, California, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wyoming

  • Hanging: New Hampshire, Washington (though Washington has had a gubernatorial moratorium since 2014)

  • Firing Squad: Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah

What do you think?

Do you live in a state that still has the death penalty? What execution methods do you think balance community will and constitutional protections? If states can no longer acquire lethal injections drugs, should they turn to other methods or abandon the practice?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia / Creative Commons)