Prison officials have renovated the death chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, ordered backup medical equipment, and developed new procedures for carrying out executions since a lethal injection went awry in the spring.
The state hopes to avoid a repeat of the April 29 execution of Clayton Lockett, who clenched his teeth, moaned and writhed on a gurney before a doctor noticed a problem with the intravenous line and the execution was called off before Lockett died anyway.
But with a brand-new set of protocols and staff training that needs to take place, many death penalty experts question whether Oklahoma will be ready to carry out the scheduled Nov. 13 execution of Charles Frederick Warner.
Inmates Richard Glossip and John Grant are scheduled to die in the weeks following Warner.
-----
KGOU produces journalism in the public interest, essential to an informed electorate. Help support informative, in-depth journalism with a donation online, or contact ourMembership department.
