BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Department of Corrections released its plan this week for how it will carry out executions by firing squad.
July 1st, firing squad will become the primary method for carrying out the death penalty. It’s the first state to have the firing squad as a primary form; four other states have firing squad as a secondary option.
The state passed legislation making this change, after encountering several issues carrying out executions by lethal injection.
Previously in Idaho, firing squad was a secondary method, to be used only if lethal injection was not an option.
Idaho is one of only a handful of states to have the firing squad as an option, and had to retrofit areas of the state’s maximum security prison to prepare for the change.
According to the protocol released this week:
The firing squad will consist of three team members who are volunteers from law enforcement agencies and have specific certifications for firearm accuracyThe condemned will be given a mild sedative before being moved to the execution areaThe condemned will be restrained in an execution chairThe firing squad will position 10 yards away from the condemnedThe Firing Squad Team Leader loads one live round into three separate magazines for each firearmThe Team Leader issues a firearm and three magazines to each member of the firing squadThe medical team leader will adhere a target to the person’s chestThe condemned person may request an eye coverEach team member will load a weapon and standby for direction to fireThe firing squad leader will begin the cadence and when directed, the team members will fire simultaneously
Right now, there are seven men and one woman in Idaho’s death row.
The state has executed three people since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Idaho last carried out an execution in July 201 when Richard Leavitt was executed by lethal injection.
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