Tennessee Adopts New Lethal Injection Protocol After 2.5-Year Hiatus

Preview

Tennessee has adopted a new lethal injection protocol, marking the resumption of executions in the state after a 2.5-year hiatus. The last scheduled execution was abruptly halted in 2022 due to concerns about the state's lethal injection process, which was found to be flawed. This led to an independent review of the state's execution procedures, initiated by Governor Bill Lee.

The new lethal injection protocol involves the use of a single drug, pentobarbital, replacing the previous three-drug series that included midazolam as the primary drug. This change aims to address the issues identified during the review, ensuring a more reliable and humane execution process. The revised protocol has been finalized after a comprehensive review by the Tennessee Department of Correction, which included consultations with various stakeholders and experts.

The adoption of this new method clears the way for the resumption of executions in Tennessee, with 46 inmates currently on death row, including one who has chosen the electric chair as an alternative execution method.