Alabama Prison Not Ready to Execute Inmates by Nitrogen Hypoxia Despite Attorney General’s Suggestion

The state Attorney General suggested that the execution by nitrogen hypoxia be performed on an inmate next month. However, the Alabama prison system stated that is not yet ready to carry out executions through the untested method.

Reports say the Attorney General of Alabama, Steve Marshall, suggested that the state is now ready to use nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution. The suggestion was written in a federal court filing that attempts to block an Alabama prison inmate’s lethal injection next month.

An article in the U.S. News & World Report states that nitrogen hypoxia is a method of execution wherein an inmate will be forced to breathe only nitrogen. In 2018, the Alabama prison became the third along with Mississippi and Oklahoma to allow the use of nitrogen gas to execute inmates.

READ ALSO: Death Row Inmate Executed For 1984 Murders Of Babysitter, Single Mother In Florida

Alabama Prison Not Yet Ready

However, according to Hrynkiw, on June 26, the Alabama prison system stated that is not yet ready to carry out executions on prisoners by nitrogen hypoxia. The Department of Corrections in Alabama also stated in an email that the protocol for carrying out executions by the untested method is not yet finalized.

Furthermore, the department stated that once the protocol is complete, their personnel will also need more time to be meticulously trained before an execution using nitrogen hypoxia can be conducted.

READ ALSO: Two Bureau Of Prisons Employees In Virginia Indicted For Inmate’s Death Due To Medical Care Neglect