Methods of Execution

There are many ways of killing throughout the history and they have varied over time. Just to give you some examples.

1: Hanging

(outline) By definition, hanging means“putting to death by suspension by the neck.” Japanese criminal law prescribes that should be done by only this method. Hanging is the oldest and most used method of execution. In 2007, up to 454 men and 4 women were hanged in 10 countries which include Bangladesh, Botswana, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Singapore, Sudan and Syria. In early times, it was considered an ideal means because the equipment (tree, a piece of rope and a ladder) was easy to come by and unlike beheading, there is no bloodshed.

(how to) There are different ways to do this.

a) Short drop: this is done by placing condemned prisoner on the back of a horse or other vehicle with the rope around the neck. Then, vehicle is moved away, leaving the accused dangling from the rope. It was mainly used prior to 1850. b) Suspension hanging: the gallows (the equipment which is used to carry on hanging) are movable, so that the rope can be raised once the person is in place. Iran, for example, is using this method by mobile cranes to hoist the condemned into the air. c) Standard drop: it involves a drop of between 1.2 to1.8 m. this is different from short drop in that this is intended to be sufficient to break the person’s neck. This method was used to execute condemned Nazis.

(after the execution) After killed by hanging, the marks of suspension like bruise and rope marks on the neck can be seen. In some cases there will have been effusions of urine faeces as the sphincter muscles deprived of oxygen and thus relax. The same phenomenon can be caused by an adrenaline rush which is common in circumstances extreme fear. Within 30 minutes, total body death occurs as the brain becomes starved of oxygen. This is why prisoners are left hanging for about an hour in some countries like Britain.

(pain) No one can be sure how painful it is to be hanged unless you do it, but it is generally considered that it is felt only in milliseconds during which their neck is broken. Those who witnessed never described any obvious suffering on the part of the prisoner. Their description was just a quick death. If all the large spinal nerves are disconnected from the brain stem, an extremely rapid reaction takes place in both ends of the severed nerves, leading to all nerve impulses becoming random instead of being structured. Consciousness is instantly lost when it occurs, no matter how high the activity of the brain may have been prior to it.

(hanging versus lethal injection) Many people who support capital punishment think that lethal injection is better than hanging, more humane form of execution. However, execution by lethal infection takes much longer than any other method often up to 45 minutes for the complete process. On the other hand, hanging usually takes only 15 to 20 seconds to become unconscious. During this 45 minutes, the condemned have to endure mental torture because they know they are being prepared for death. So lethal injection is clearly much less dramatic than hanging and, therefore, probably easier for staffs and witnesses to cope with. It is suitable for all ages and sexes, but there is often a problem where prisoner simply has small veins which tend to contract even further when they are frightened. On Execution chamber at San top of that, some wonders if lethal injection can play a role as a Quentin State Prison in deterrent like hanging in the minds of criminals. It might be California regarded as a soft option.

2: Electrocution

(outline) New York built the first in 1888 in search of more humane method of killing than hanging. In the early days, the proponents of the use of electricity as a means of death had to prove that it was indeed most proficient manner of execution. In order to convince people of its proficiency, they demonstrated it on animals like cats and dogs. After that, to prove its efficiency further and completely, they killed a cow and a horse and people were finally convinced. At first, electrocution failed to kill prisoner at once and continuing a few minutes, the inmate’s body thrashed and convulsed. The sight made many witnesses faint or leave the room. However, the problem was improved later and able to kill inmates almost instantly. As soon as it was proved to be effective in 1890, other states adopted this method. The use of the electric chair has become a symbol of the death penalty for many people, but the countries which have been using this are only USA and Philippines. In the case of the USA, electrocution is used as the sole method of execution only in Nebraska. On top of that, its use is declining.

(how to) The person is strapped to a specially built chair and killed by causing electricity through the body. It causes brain death though some claim that high voltages of electricity causes very rapid irregular contractions of the heart and it results in the heart stopping. This involves using a direct application of electric current to inmates. So before conducting this, the prisoner’s head and legs are shaved so that an electrode makes direct contact against their skull. A wet sponge is placed between the electrode and the offender’s sculp. The chair in itself is not actually electrified, but serves to restrict inmates during the process. The electric current comes from the head electrode at an intensity between 1,500 and 2,250 volts for a period lasting 30 seconds to a full minute. This is then followed by alternating voltages of varying intensity for another minute. The body may heat up to approximately 100 degrees centigrade, which causes sever damage to internal organs. Often the eyeballs melt. The current exits the inmate’s body through their legs like lightning would seek to hit the ground. The neurons of the inmate's brain are overwhelmed by the current immediately and brain dies

within milliseconds. The body is likely to change color and the flesh may catch fire, leaving an unpleasant smell of burning skin.

(the famous last words) These are the famous last words by criminals executed by electric chair. Their remarks are related to the way they were executed.

“Well, gentleman. You are about to see a baked appel.” By George Appel in 1928

“How about this for a headline for tomorrow’s paper? French fries.” By James French in 1966

“I’d rather be fishing.” By Jimmy Glass in 1987

(decline) Like a hanging, electrocution has been replaced by lethal injection recently. Lethal injection is now became the most popular method in US. Another reason is that there are instances in which it failed to kill inmates as soon as an electrode applied and kept criminals suffering from pain. If an electric chair failed to kill prisoner at first attempt, offender would repeat the process until death. Burning of varying degrees to parts of the body also played a role.

(interesting facts) In 1991, two Polish doctors reported the case of a 58- year-old executed male whose legs were broken by the intense twitching of the legs due to the force of the deadly electric current passing through his body. In 1946, an electric chair malfunctioned and failed to execute the prisoner who reportedly shrieked “Stop it! Let me breath!” as he was being executed. Having survived, lawyers for the prisoner argued that, although he did not die, he had been executed as defined by the law. In 1947, the US Supreme Court ruled against the prisoner. He was returned to the electric chair and successfully executed later that year.

(conclusion) On the whole, electric chair is no longer so popular contrary to popular belief. It has experienced many failures and given prisoners cruel moments. The sight of the electrocution is not pleasant. That’s why it has not been seen or heard recently. Although it was invented as humane method of execution, it couldn’t fulfill this purpose.

3: Lethal injection

(outline) Lethal injection refers to the practice of injecting people with a fatal dose of drugs for the purpose of killing. This is virtually the universal method of execution in the . In 2007, 930 of the1099 executions were carried out by this method. Actually, every American execution in 2005 was done by this. It is considered to be the most humane form of execution. It is also used as a means of euthanasia (the intentional end of life for keeping patients from suffering any more). The other countries using the method are China (adopted in 1997), Guatemala (in 1998), Philippines (in 1999), Thailand (in 2003) and Taiwan (in 2005). In the case of Thailand, lethal injection is the sole method fro execution. In Philippines, the method is virtually no longer used because it abolished capital punishment in 2006. In China, this method replaced the execution by shooting. In 1888, the idea was first proposed by Julius Mount Blayer, a New York doctor who suggested it is cheaper and more humane than hanging. He also said that it can deprive the prisoner of the sense of being hero that often is attached to hanging, but his idea didn’t catch on at that time. Texas carried out the first execution by lethal injection on December 7th, 1982 when Charls Brooks was put to death for the murder of second-hand car salesman.

(procedure) Typically, the actual injections take from 3 to 5 minutes to complete. First, the prisoner is strapped to a gurney (see the picture right). Their bare arms are strapped to boards projecting from the sides of a gurney. Then, trained technicians insert a catheter (a needle) into a vein in each arm. Once the catheters are in place, they are flushed with 10ml of a Heperin solution to prevent clots (solidified blood) from forming inside the catheter. Next, 1,000ml bag of saline solution is connected to the catheter ends and the prisoner is ether wheeled into the execution chamber or the curtains surrounding it are drawn back to allow witnesses to see procedure. When criminals has made final statement, the warden ( a

person who supervises a prison) gives the signal for the execution to begin and technicians begin to manually inject the three chemicals comprising of 15-50cc of Sodium thiopental, 15-50cc of Pancuronium bromide and 15-50cc of Potassium chloride. Sodium thiopental is used widely as an anesthetic and causes unconsciousness very quickly if injected into a vein. Pancuronium bromide is a muscle relaxant that paralyses the diaphragm (the internal organ) while Potassium chloride finishes the job by causing cardiac (heart) arrest. In most cases, the prisoner becomes unconscious about a minute after the Sodium thiopental has been injected is dead in around 8 minutes with no clear signs of physical suffering.

(failure) There are some concerns about the method. One of which is that if prisoners didn’t become unconscious by being injected Sodium thiopental and couldn’t send message due to the immovable body paralyzed by Pancuronium bromide, executioners wouldn’t realize inmate’s situation and would give him long time suffering. Another concern is that it is possible for a needle to penetrate vein and inject drug into arm muscles. In fact, the latter case happened to Angel Nieves Diaz in on 13th of December 2006 and it took him 34 minutes to die. In order to avoid such failure, machine which can inject exact amount of drug into precisely right place has been introduced recently.

( is lethal injection really more humane than other methods?) In general, people tend to think of lethal injection as an ideal method in terms of humanity. However, there is no denial that the injection takes longer time to kill than almost all other methods. During that time in which the prisoners waiting for their death, they are forced to think they are proceeding to death nearer and nearer. From reading the reports of execution by lethal injection, you can see that there is much difference in how long does it take to kill from prisoner to prisoner. This is because trained technician often fail to discern artery from vein and it makes big difference. If doctor inject chemical into artery instead of vein, it takes much longer to kill prisoner because artery is carrying blood from heart to body whereas vein carries blood from body to heart and drug must be sent to heart to kill inmate. It is sometimes very difficult for even skilled doctor to find usable vein. However, lethal injection enables inmates to feel death when they become sleepy or are about to become unconscious because of drug while hanging or electrocution leaves little time to feel the end.

Execution-witnessing area at San Quentin State Prison in California

4: Gas chamber (outline) Gas chambers are used in USA and North Korea and were used by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust as part of their genocide program. This room is not only an equipment for killing, but also used to paralyze animal for surgery. The most commonly used poisonous stuffs are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. The first time it was used as a method of killing in US was in 1924 and the name of the condemned was Gee Jon. Between 1930 and 1980, 945 men and 7 women were put to death by the chamber in US. Most gas chambers as a method of execution have now been replaced by lethal injection because death by gassing causes severe suffering for prisoner. In case of North Korea, it was reported in 2004 that chambers are used both as punishment and testing on humans.

(process) First, the condemned is brought into chamber, strapped into a chair and the door is closed. The chamber is airtight. Then, an executioner pours a quantity of concentrated sulfuric acid and cyanide pellets respectively down different tubes that leads to a small holding tank directly beneath the chamber. At this point, the prison warden asks prisoner if he or she wants to make final statement. After this, an executioner starts to drop cyanide pellets into sulfuric acid and it causes chemical reaction that generates hydrogen cyanide gas. The gas is visible to the condemned and he or she is advised to take several deep breaths in order to make him or her unconscious as fast as possible because the killing by gassing is usually painful and unpleasant. However, in most cases prisoners try to hold their breath and would experience unnecessary suffering. During the process, the curtain of the chamber is opened and the situation is watched by an executioner, doctors, criminal’s family members and Guards. After finishing the execution process, the chamber must be neutralized with anhydrous ammonia before it is opened again. Guards wearing oxygen masks remove the body from the room and the prison doctors examine the criminal to confirm and declare if he or she is really

dead. Finally, an executioner releases the corpse next to the family. 5: decapitation (beheading) (outline) Beheading had been widely used in Europe and Asia until other methods replaced it. Like hanging, it was easy to conduct it because its equipment was axe or sword and those were always available. Later, sword and axe were replaced by guillotine. Prior to adopting hanging as a sole method of execution, Japan also did beheading.

(process) A sword use for beheading is generally 900-1200mm long 50-65mm wide with the handle long enough for executioner to hold it with both hands and give maximum power. It weighs around 2kg. typical size of an axe used for beheading was blade of about 500mm high by250mm wide with a 1525mm long handle. In both of case, criminals are blindfolded (being made unable to see)and executioner have to hold the prisoner’s hair so that they don’t move. A position was typically kneeling though it is possible to cut when criminals are sitting or even standing.

(the cause of death) Decapitation is as humane method as any modern method of execution if carried out correctly and successfully. The best case is that a single attempt is sufficient to behead the prisoner. The consciousness is usually lost within 2-3 seconds after being decapitated due to a rapid fall of the blood supply to the brain. The criminals die from shock and the loss of blood pressure within less than 60 seconds. It has been frequently reported that the eyes and mouth of the decapitated have shown signs of movement. It has been calculated that the human brain has enough oxygen stored for metabolism (the process of replacing old things with new things) to persist for about 7 seconds after the head is cut off. Heart would also continue to beat for some time after the cutting.

(problem) Beheading requires a skilled executioner in order to kill prisoner with one attempt. If they fail to kill the criminal at first attempt, they have to repeat it until the condemned dies and it causes intolerable pain.

6: Burial

(outline) After only a few minutes in buried situation, permanent brain damage through oxygen starvation is likely to occur. Even if air is available and person can survive considerable time, until death, the victim is forced to imagine what is happening and will happen and experience psychological and physical torment including not being able to move because of limited space. Due to utter darkness and little room to move, the accused will panic or suffer from claustrophobia (an anxiety disorder that involves the feeling of being enclosed). That’s why this method is considered to be cruel. Ancient Rome, Russia, Muslim, China and India used it. It is considered to be ritual rather than punishment for some religious groups like Christianity. In ancient China, it was used to slaughter 400,000 captives in the battle of Changping in 260 BC. In some cases the person who would be buried was supplied with a small amount of bread and water before they were actually buried.

(facts) There are a couple of different positions in a coffin (a room for victims to enter when they are buried). First, there is a position of just lying back as the man described in the picture right. Second, there is a upright position. In Islam, the victim’s head is pointed toward Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. As a matter of course, when mass burial occurs, victims are buried at random due to considerations of time and space. There is a legend that the buried victim survived for 10 months without being noticed in India, but scientists say it is impossible for human beings to live such a long time without food and water.