Posted on 10/19/2001 2:03:45 PM PDT by vannrox
| Lethal Injection - Execution by lethal injection is usually the easiest and least painful method of execution, therefore it has become the most common method. It is considered to be the most humane, which becomes obvious as you read the descriptions of other methods. Lethal injection is achieved by the intravenous delivery of a deadly quantity of three different drugs. The inmate is placed on a gurney and his ankles and wrists are restrained. A regular saline IV is started, then a large dose of sodium thiopental is delivered, causing unconsciousness, followed by pancuronium bromide, a muscle-relaxer which paralyzes the lungs and diaphragm, causing the inmate to stop breathing. The final drug is potassium chloride which stops the heart. Death usually occurs approximately 7 minutes after the lethal injection begins. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the cost for the drugs used in lethal injection is $86.08. |
| Electrocution - This method of execution involves using tremendous amounts of energy to burn the body's internal organs. The inmate's head is shaved so that the electrodes will make better contact with the body, then he is strapped to the electric chair. The electrodes are attached and the current is applied in varying amounts for two to three minutes. The body is likely to change color and the flesh may catch fire. There is usually a smell of burning skin after a person is electrocuted. |
| Gas Chamber - When a condemned inmate is executed by lethal gas, the prisoner is restrained in a chair inside an air-tight chamber. The executioner opens a valve which allows hydrochloric acid to flow into a pan behind the chair. He then adds a quantity of potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide crystals into the acid, producing hydrocyanic gas. This gas affects the ability of the body to process blood hemoglobin and unconsciousness generally occurs within a few seconds after the prisoner takes a breath. If the prisoner tries to hold their breath, the process can take much longer and can cause convulsions. After the prisoner is pronounced dead, usually within five to fifteen minutes, air filters are turned on and the executioner goes in with a gas mask to confirm the death. The body is decontaminated with bleach solutions and the body must be decontaminated before being handled by an undertaker. |
| Hanging - The condemned prisoner is weighed prior to the execution. A specific amount of force must be applied to the neck in relation to the weight of the inmate. If this is properly done, death is by dislocation of the third or fourth cervical vertebrae. The noose is placed behind the prisoners left ear so as to snap the neck upon dropping when the trap door opens. If not precisely done, the inmate will strangle to death on the rope, die from lack of blood to the brain, or if dropped too far, decapitation can occur. Obviously a painful and inhumane method of execution due to the potential for error. |
| Firing Squad - Execution by a firing squad usually involves a team of shooters, only some of whom use real bullets with others using blanks. The team aims for the trunk of the body. |
Methods of Execution
State Minimum age
for death penaltyMethod Alabama 16 Electrocution Alaska — Do not have capital punishment Arizona1 none Lethal injection or gas chamber Arkansas2 14 Lethal injection or electrocution California 18 Gas chamber or lethal injection Colorado 18 Lethal injection Connecticut 18 Lethal injection Delaware3 16 Lethal injection or hanging D.C. — Do not have capital punishment Florida 16 Lethal injection Georgia 17 Electrocution Hawaii — Do not have capital punishment Idaho none Lethal injection or firing squad Illinois 18 Lethal injection Indiana 16 Lethal injection Iowa — Do not have capital punishment Kansas 18 Lethal injection Kentucky4 16 Electrocution Louisiana none Lethal injection Maine — Do not have capital punishment Maryland 18 Lethal injection Massachusetts — Do not have capital punishment Michigan — Do not have capital punishment Minnesota — Do not have capital punishment Mississippi5 16 Lethal injection / gas chamber Missouri 16 Lethal injection / gas chamber Montana none Lethal injection Nebraska 18 Electrocution Nevada 16 Lethal injection New Hampshire6 17 Lethal injection or hanging New Jersey 18 Lethal injection New Mexico 18 Lethal injection New York 18 Lethal injection North Carolina7 17 Gas chamber or lethal injection North Dakota — No death penalty Ohio 18 Electrocution or lethal injection Oklahoma8 16 Lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad Oregon 18 Lethal injection Pennsylvania none Lethal injection Rhode Island — No death penalty South Carolina none Electrocution or lethal injection South Dakota9 none Lethal injection Tennessee10 18 Electrocution Texas 17 Lethal injection Utah none Firing squad or lethal injection Vermont — No death penalty Virginia11 14 Electrocution or lethal injection Washington 18 Hanging or lethal injection West Virginia — No death penalty Wisconsin — No death penalty Wyoming12 16 Lethal injection or gas chamber Federal13 18 Lethal injection
New Hampshire authorizes hanging only if lethal injection cannot be given.
Wyoming authorizes lethal gas if lethal injection is ever held to be unconstitutional.
Source: Capital Punishment, 1998.
Page visited times since 4/12/00
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 Costs of an Execution |
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| Expenses submitted by the Iowa State Penitentiary to the federal government for the cost of Victor Feguer's March 15, 1963, execution. |
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| Keeping prisoner | $4.05 per day | |
| Additional guard time for special watch and during execution | 1.50 per hour | |
| Hangman's rope | 28.75 | $28.75 |
| Physicians' fee | 25.00 each | $50.00 |
| Clothing: | ||
| 2 Suits | $33.50 | $67.00 |
| 2 Sets Underwear | 1.14 | 2.28 |
| 2 Shirts, white | 1.81 | 3.62 |
| 2 Neckties | .37 | .74 |
| 1 Belt | .75 | |
| 1 Pair Socks | .29 | |
| 1 Pair Shoes | 7.30 | |
| 1 Handkerchief | .09 | |
| 82.07 | ||
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The knowledge that a condemned killer will never harm another human being....
Priceless.
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