executions

The Drug Used in Alabama’s Problematic Execution Has a Controversial History

Midazolam has been criticized for not properly making inmates unconscious

By Josh Sanburn December 9, 2016

Obama's Saudi Visit Comes at Fraught Time

The U.S.-Saudi alliance goes deep, but changes in the oil industry and regional politics is calling it into question as the President visits

By Jared Malsin/Istanbul April 19, 2016

Behind the Alarming Surge in Executions Worldwide

Figuring out why executions have spiked isn't easy

By TIME Video April 12, 2016

U.S. Executions Hit Lowest Level in Two Decades

The number of death sentences declined by one third in the past year

By Josh Sanburn December 16, 2015

U.S. Veterans Comprise 10% of Death Row Inmates: Report

About 300 former military personnel are awaiting execution

By Josh Sanburn November 10, 2015

Oklahoma Used Wrong Drug in Lethal Injection

Wrong drug used during January execution

By Josh Sanburn October 8, 2015

Oklahoma Asks Court to Delay Executions

The state says it received the wrong drug

By Josh Sanburn October 1, 2015

Search for Execution Drugs Continues

States still have problems with controversial sedative

By Josh Sanburn June 29, 2015

Supreme Court OKs Lethal Injection Drug

The sedative was used in a series of executions widely considered botched

By Josh Sanburn June 29, 2015

Which State Will Be Next to Abolish the Death Penalty?

Several more are primed to repeal capital punishment

By Josh Sanburn May 28, 2015

Execution of 10 Foreigners in Indonesia Looks Imminent

President Joko Widodo has said he will not interfere

By Kevin McSpadden April 24, 2015

Nitrogen Gas Executions Approved

Why Oklahoma became the first state to approve nitrogen gas as a lethal injection alternative

By Josh Sanburn April 10, 2015

The Cold, Hard Truth About Death by Firing Squad

It's undeniably brutal — but experts say it may be the most effective way to carry out the death penalty

By Josh Sanburn March 12, 2015

Nebraska Considers Eliminating the Death Penalty

With support from Republican lawmakers

By Josh Sanburn March 5, 2015

Australians Await Execution

Despite taking a hard-line stance with foreigners on death row in Indonesia, President Joko Widodo has vowed to save the lives of his compatriots facing execution abroad

By Yenni Kwok March 4, 2015

Georgia Postpones Executions Over 'Cloudy' Drugs

Georgia's supply of lethal injection drug pentobarbital may have gone bad

By Josh Sanburn March 3, 2015

Supreme Court Stays Execution of Texas Inmate

Lester Bower is one of the state's longest-serving inmates

By Josh Sanburn February 5, 2015

Supreme Court Halts 3 Executions

State is temporarily barred from using controversial sedative

By Josh Sanburn January 28, 2015

Oklahoma Resumes Executions After Nearly 9-Month Delay

Thursday's execution came shortly after the Supreme Court rejected his legal team's appeal

By Josh Sanburn January 15, 2015

Ohio Switches Up Lethal-Injection Drugs

The state is dropping a controversial drug while delaying executions

By Josh Sanburn January 8, 2015

Oklahoma Inmate 'Felt Liquid Fire' During Execution

Expert says Clayton Lockett likely suffered on the execution table

By Josh Sanburn December 18, 2014

Executions in the United States at 20 Year Low

It has been a tortured year for capital punishment in the U.S., with multiple botched executions, last-minute stays, and exonerations raising questions about the nation's ability to constitutionally met out the punishment

By Elizabeth Barber December 18, 2014

China Sets Deadline to Stop Taking Organs From Executed Prisoners

Starting next month, China will end its ethically unsettling reliance on transplant organs culled from its condemned prisoners, state media said

By Elizabeth Barber December 5, 2014

Texas to Kill Schizophrenic Man

Scott Panetti, who is scheduled to die Wednesday, has a long history of severe mental illness

By Josh Sanburn December 1, 2014

Utah Wants to Bring Back Execution by Firing Squad

State legislature may mandate firing squads if lethal injection drugs aren't available

By Josh Sanburn November 20, 2014

Ohio Looks to Shield Lethal Injection Drugmakers

Bill would keep the source of lethal injection drugs anonymous

By Josh Sanburn November 13, 2014

ISIS Revenge Killings Reportedly Target Sunni Tribe in Iraq

“We were fighting ISIS with rifles, and it was fighting us with heavy machine guns”

By Denver Nicks October 31, 2014

Oklahoma Changes Lethal Injection Protocol, But Keeps Controversial Drug

After an execution widely regarded as botched

By Josh Sanburn October 1, 2014

States Shield Injection Firms

Ohio's attorney general proposed shielding the identity of companies who provide drugs for execution, following the lead of other states

By Josh Sanburn October 1, 2014

Oklahoma Changing Lethal Injection Approach

The new execution guidelines come after a report detailed the chaotic scene during the prolonged killing of Clayton Lockett

By Josh Sanburn September 8, 2014

IV Problem Led To Botched Oklahoma Execution

An IV became dislodged sometime during the execution, according to a state review ordered by Oklahoma's governor

By Josh Sanburn September 4, 2014

Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Didn't Die From Heart Attack

Autopsy reveals officials at "botched" execution attempted to tap a vein in Clayton Lockett's groin, chest, neck, both arms and one of his feet

By Josh Sanburn August 28, 2014

California to Fight Ruling Against Death Penalty

State Attorney General Kamala Harris to appeal

By Josh Sanburn August 22, 2014

Ohio Still Isn't Ready to Start Killing People Again

A federal judge has delayed three planned executions amid ongoing legal challenges

By Josh Sanburn August 11, 2014

Missouri Nears Executions Record

Backlogged cases are working their way through the system

By Josh Sanburn August 5, 2014

Death Penalty Under Scrutiny After Botches

The prolonged execution in Arizona was the third troubled lethal injection death this year. If our most modern form of capital punishment isn't working, what happens to the death penalty?

By Josh Sanburn July 25, 2014

Inside Arizona's Agonizingly Long Execution

The inmate's lawyers appealed to state and federal courts to issue an order to resuscitate Wood as he reportedly gasped on the gurney on Wednesday

By Josh Sanburn July 24, 2014

Execution Death Takes Two Hours

One of the judges that issued a stay of execution, later overturned, wrote in an opinion that the firing squad would likely be a better option for executions

By Maya Rhodan July 23, 2014

3 Executions in 24 Hours

John Ruthell Henry was pronounced dead at 7:43 pm on Wednesday, in Florida, despite a last minute appeal by his lawyers

By Maya Rhodan June 18, 2014

Legal Challenges Aren't Stopping Executions

Courts remain skeptical of legal arguments challenging the constitutionality of lethal injection drugs and their origins

By Josh Sanburn June 18, 2014

Missouri Eyes Its Own Lethal-Injection Pharmacy

Missouri’s attorney general wants his state to manufacture execution drugs, but the cost and logistics might not be worth it

By Josh Sanburn June 7, 2014

Newspapers Sue Missouri Over Execution-Drug Secrecy

The Guardian, the Associated Press and three local newspapers have joined forces in the growing controversy over death-penalty transparency. The lawsuit challenges Missouri's refusal — new as of October last year — to disclose the source of execution drugs

By Denver Nicks and Josh Sanburn May 15, 2014

Lethal Injection Creator: Nothing Is 'More Humane'

Dr. Jay Chapman developed the first lethal injection protocol four decades ago and it was eventually adopted in nearly every state with the death penalty. In a rare interview, Chapman reflects on his involvement, lethal injection's current problems and more

By Josh Sanburn May 15, 2014

Inside the Botched Execution of Clayton Lockett

Oklahoma death row inmate Clayton Lockett died following a botched lethal injection execution this week. Prison officials say he died of a heart attack, but what actually happened behind the execution chamber’s closed doors is anyone’s guess

By Josh Sanburn May 1, 2014

Oklahoma Suspends Executions and Vows Review

Gov. Mary Fallin halted the state's executions on Wednesday until an independent review looks into why a death row inmate convulsed and twitched multiple times during a 43-minute lethal injection this week that witnesses described as "unsettling"

By Josh Sanburn April 30, 2014

Here's Why Death Penalty Opponents Say Resuming Federal Executions Is the Wrong Move

Remembering America's 'Angel of Death Row'

Arkansas Is Preparing for Double Lethal Injections

Death Penalty Slowly Fading Away Across the U.S.