Republic Reporter Weighs In On Tentative Settlement Regarding Executions

By Steve Goldstein, Lauren Gilger
Published: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 3:09pm
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A tentative settlement has been reached between the state and a group of prisoners who sued over how executions are conducted. That’s according to lawyers representing the prisoners. The settlement would cement new execution rules published by the Department of Corrections in May. 

Some of the biggest changes to the new protocol are ending the use of a paralytic drug that some say masks pain, as well as preventing the Corrections Director from closing the curtain to the death chamber if something goes wrong.

Additionally, it gets rid of the controversial provision that allows inmates to provide their own execution drugs.

Joining me now to talk about this is Michael Kiefer, a reporter with The Arizona Republic who covers the death penalty.

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