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States Consider Lethal Injection Alternatives

OKLAHOMA CITY — As the result of the botched lethal injection execution of Oklahoma inmate Clayton Lockett in April 2014, as well as a nationwide shortage of lethal injection drugs, some of the 32 states that practice capital punishment now are examining alternative methods.

Lockett apparently experienced a heart attack after receiving the injection, which Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections Director Robert Patton attributed to “vein failure.” The issue was compounded by the fact that officials did not have another dose in the facility.

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Articles

Ohio Changing Lethal Injection Execution Methods

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio is planning to address and restructure its current prisoner execution method, according to a recent court filing. This change will revolve around the type of drug the state uses in lethal injections. Expiring supply lines and diminishing drug sources call for this change.

The manufacturer of pentobarbital, the sedative used in Ohio’s lethal injections, has prohibited the continued supply of the drug. Ohio therefore must look elsewhere for alternate execution methods when its supply of the sedative runs out at the end of September.

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