How Many U.S. States Still Use The Lethal Injection?
Pfizer, the largest U.S. pharmaceutical company, is imposing further controls to stop its drugs being used in lethal injections, it has been revealed.
The decision has shone a light on the ethical and logistical problems with capital punishment within the U.S.
Pfizer’s statement shuts one of the last avenues for drugs used in executions.
As officials have searched for new cocktails to plug this gap, this form of execution has come under intensified scrutiny, particularly after one prisoner, Clayton Lockett, took 43 minutes to die after being given an untested mixture of drugs.
But how many of the 31 states that still have the death penalty use the technique?
Julia Tutwiler Prison houses Albama’s female death row inmates (WikiCommons)
1. Alabama
The southern state gives inmates the choice of lethal injection or electrocution. It currently has 196 Death Row prisoners.
2. Arizona
Another state with two choices: prisoners can elect to die by lethal injection or gas chamber (if they were sentenced before November 1992).
3. Arkansas
Lethal injection is the main form of execution here, but those sentenced before 1983 can choose electrocution.
A lethal injection table in California (WikiCommons)
4. California
Thirteen people since 1976, when capital punishment was affirmed to be legal, have been executed in California. Inmates here can choose lethal injection or gas.
5. Colorado
The western state administers capital punishment by lethal injection. Only one person has been executed here since 1976.
6. Delaware
Most executions are by lethal injection, although those sentenced before 1986 can chose hanging. One man, murderer Billy Bailey, chose so in 1996.
The lethal injection room in Florida
7. Florida
With 92 executions since 1976, Florida is the fourth highest administer of capital punishment. The state operates lethal injection or electrocution.
8. Georgia
Georgia has already executed five people this year – the second highest. It uses lethal injection.
9. Idaho
Idaho uses lethal injection, although between 1976 and 1978 could use firing squad (no one was ever executed this way).
10. Indiana
Indiana uses lethal injection and has executed 10 people since 1976.
11. Kansas
The midwest state uses lethal injection, although no one has been executed since 1976.
12. Kentucky
Kentucky uses lethal injection mainly; those sentenced before 1998 can choose electrocution.
The former State of Louisiana execution chamber (WikiCommons)
13. Louisiana
The state has one form of execution: lethal injection.
14. Mississippi
Mississippi has executed 21 people since 1976, all by lethal injection.
15. Missouri
This state has executed 87 people since 1976 (one this year). Inmates can choose lethal injection or gas.
16. Montana
The western state uses, like most others, lethal injection.
17. Nevada
The huge state uses lethal injection.
18. New Hampshire
New Hampshire uses lethal injection or hanging, if injection is not possible. However, it hasn’t executed anyone since 1976.
Louisiana State Penitentiary (WIkiCommons)
19. North Carolina
North Carolina uses lethal injection and has executed 43 people since 1976 (although none since 2011).
20. Ohio
With 53 executions since 1976, Ohio is one of the highest administers of capital punishment. It uses lethal injection.
Oklahoma State Penitentiary, the location of the execution chamber of Oklahoma (WikiCommons)
21. Oklahoma
Lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad are used Oklahoma, which has executed 112 people since 1976 (the second highest).
22. Oregon
Oregon uses lethal injection and currently has 34 people on Death Row.
23. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has executed three people since 1976 (lethal injection), although does have 180 people on Death Row.
24. South Carolina
Lethal injection or electrocution are both used in South Carolina.
25. South Dakota
The state uses lethal injection, although only has three inmates on Death Row and has executed three people since 1976.
26. Tennessee
Lethal injection for crimes after 1998; but others may select electrocution.
The location of the Texas execution chamber (WikiCommons)
27. Texas
With 537 executions since 1976 – including five this year – Texas uses capital punishments (always lethal injection) far more than any other state.
28. Utah
Utah uses lethal injection, or firing squad for those who selected it prior to March 2004.
The electric chair in Virgina (Rob Crandall / Stock Connection/REX/Shutterstock
29. Virginia
Lethal injection or electrocution are used in Virginia, which has executed 111 people since 1976 (the third highest).
30. Washington
Washington offers a choice of lethal injection or hanging.
31. Wyoming
Lethal injection or gas are used in Wyoming, which has executed one person since 1976.
The US Federal Government also uses lethal injection.
In 2012, a total of 220 people were executed in the U.S. This is below Iran (1,633), Saudi Arabia (432) and Iraq (256) but above Pakistan (171) and North Korea (105). The exact number of executions in China is unknown but thought to be in the thousands.
For more information, see DeathPenaltyInfo.org
(Credit: Sipa Press/REX/Shutterstock)
