New Protocols Regarding Death Penalty

The Tennessee Department of Corrections this week did an about face and released a redacted copy of their new protocols regarding the death penalty. Governor Bill Lee had put a moratorium on executions in the state after issues with testing of the drugs the state used in executions were brought to light. Last wee, the Department of Corrections announced they had come up with a new protocol, but refused to release it due to security reasons regarding those who are involved in carrying out executions. Late this week, the department released a redacted copy. According to the document , the state has changed from the three drug cocktail they had used before, to now using a single drug, pentobarbital. Under the new protocol, the department says they will have ” a sufficient supply of the drug and that it is subject to “quality assurance and quality control testing.” It also states the department will “follow recommended guidelines for safe transportation and storage.” In addition, the warden of Riverbend Maximum Security Prison and another person will conduct semi-annual inventories of the drug to ensure they have not expired, as well as another inventory 30 days before an execution is scheduled to take place. Pentobarbital is a sedative that is commonly used to treat some seizures or insomnia by calming overactive nerves, according to the Cleveland Clinic. At high doses it is deadly, and is often used to euthanize animals.