Fusiliers and gas can become methods of execution

D.and in accordance with guidelines published today in the United States Federal Register, the US government can execute executions by lethal injection – the method currently used – or use “any other procedure prescribed by the law of the state in which it is imposed.”

There are several states in the country whose methods of executing prisoners include electrocution, inhalation of nitrogen gas or even death by shooting.

However, it is still unclear whether the Justice Department seeks to add other methods to the execution procedure besides lethal injection.

This rule – which goes into effect December 24 – comes at the same time that the Justice Department has planned five executions, three of which are just days before Democratic President-elect Joe Biden takes office (on January 20).

A Justice Department official told the Associated Press (AP) that this change was made taking into account the Federal Death Penalty Act, which requires sentences to be carried out “in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed. “.

This decision, however, may allow the use of methods such as those described above, as they are incorporated into the legislation of multiple states.

The same official assured that the executive “will not execute a prisoner by shooting him with a firing squad or by electrocution, unless the state itself [onde a sentença é proferida] authorized this method of execution “.

That is, these methods, in principle, can be used.

Two of the executions scheduled for December, this official said, will be by lethal injection, but there is still no information on the other three scheduled for January.

This agent spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP.

The change should generate considerable criticism among Democrats and death penalty activists, as the outgoing administration, led by Republican Donald Trump, seeks to make the latest changes to the legislation before leaving the White House.

A spokesperson for President-elect Biden told the PA earlier this month that the Democrat “is against the death penalty now and in the future” and that he will work to end the practice.

However, this spokesperson did not say whether Biden will immediately suspend the planned executions.

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