Answer

Life in prison or the death penalty

Answer

The 35 states that still have capital punishment were transitioning toward using lethal injection for most executions, when medical evidence indicated the drugs may not be working as expected, and may cause the prisoner to undergo conscious asphyxiation. At least one state (Nevada) has reverted to using the electric chair, and several others have declared a temporary moratorium on executions. A few states allow a choice between injection and one other method, such as the gas chamber, electrocution, hanging, or a firing squad, usually for offenders who were sentenced or committed their crimes before a certain date.

Execution Methods by State

Alabama..................Choice of lethal injection or electrocution

Arkansas.................Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution if convicted before 1983)

Arizona...................Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution if convicted before November 1992)

California................Choice of lethal injection or gas chamber

Colorado.................Lethal injection

Connecticut.............Lethal injection

Delaware................Lethal injection (or choice of hanging if convicted before June 13, 1986)

Florida....................Choice of lethal injection or electrocution

Georgia..................Lethal injection

Idaho.....................Lethal injection (or firing squad if injection is impractical)

Illinois....................Lethal injection

Indiana..................Lethal injection

Kansas...................Lethal injection

Kentucky................Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution if sentenced before March 31, 1998)

Louisiana................Lethal injection

Maryland................Lethal injection (or choice of gas chamber if sentenced before March 25, 1994)

Missouri.................Choice of lethal injection or gas chamber

Mississippi..............Lethal injection

Montana.................Lethal injection

North Carolina.........Lethal injection

Nebraska................Lethal injection

New Hampshire.......Lethal injection (or hanging if injection is impractical)

Nevada..................Lethal injection

Ohio......................Lethal injection

Oklahoma..............Lethal injection (or electrocution or firing squad if injection is declared unconstitutional)

Oregon..................Lethal injection

Pennsylvania..........Lethal injection

South Carolina........Choice of lethal injection or electrocution

South Dakota.........Lethal injection

Tennessee..............Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution for offenses before December 31, 1998)

Texas....................Lethal injection

Utah.....................Lethal injection (or firing squad if injection is declared unconstitutional)

Virginia.................Choice of lethal injection or electrocution

Washington...........Choice of lethal injection or hanging

Wyoming...............Lethal injection (or gas chamber if injection is declared unconstitutional)

Federal.................Method of state where sentence was imposed

Military.................Lethal injection

Answer

Oklahoma was the first jurisdiction to authorize lethal injection May 1977. Texas was the second August 1977. Oklahoma and Texas no longer authorize electrocution but electrocution is designated to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection can't be administered in Oklahoma. Texas executed the first prisoner by lethal injection December 7, 1982.

ELECTROCUTION

Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Virginia authorize electrocution as an alternative to lethal injection. Ohio similarly authorized electrocution until September 2001. Kentucky and Tennessee authorize electrocution if the prisoner was sentenced to death for crimes committed before legislative dates. (March 31, 1998 and December 31, 1998 respectively.) Arkansas, Illinois, and Oklahoma don't authorize the use of electrocution but electrocution is designated to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection cannot be administered. Florida required electrocution until January 2000. Georgia required electrocution until October 2001. Alabama required electrocution until July 2002. Nebraska required electrocution until February 2008.

GASSING

California authorizes gassing as an alternative to lethal injection. North Carolina similarly authorized gassing until October 1998. Arizona authorizes gassing for prisoners sentenced to death before November 15, 1992. Maryland authorizes gassing if the prisoner was sentenced to death for crimes committed before March 25, 1994. Wyoming no longer authorizes the use of gassing but gassing is designated to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection can't be administered. Missouri either authorizes gassing as an alternative to lethal injection or designates gassing to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection cannot be administered - no one is certain except the State Legislature.

HANGING

Washington State authorizes hanging as an alternative to lethal injection. Delaware and New Hampshire no longer authorize hanging but hanging is designated to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection cannot be administered.

SHOOTING

Utah authorizes shooting if the prisoner was sentenced to death for crimes committed before May 3, 2004. Oklahoma doesn't authorize the use of shooting but shooting is designated to supplant electrocution if electrocution cannot be administered.

JURISDICTIONS THAT FORMERLY AUTHORIZED ELECTROCUTION

Alabama - prescribed method until July 2002.

Arkansas - prescribed method until July 1983.

Florida - prescribed method until January 2000.

Georgia - prescribed method until October 2001.

Kentucky - prescribed method until March 1998.

Mississippi - prescribed method until September 1954.

Nebraska - prescribed method until February 2008.

Oklahoma - prescribed method until May 1977.

Pennsylvania - prescribed method until November 1990.

South Carolina - prescribed method until June 1995.

Tennessee - prescribed method until December 1998.

Texas - prescribed method until August 1977.

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