Death row is supermax, it’s extremely, highly restricted. by Robert Dunham

Death row is supermax, it’s extremely, highly restricted.

Robert Dunham

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All of the states that have been carrying out executions have some form of secrecy... the states initially said that this is necessary for them to obtain the drugs because drug manufacturers were being harassed, they claimed, by anti-death penalty advocates. Those allegations have all turned out to be false. But the states have continued to attempt to expand secrecy and the real reason is because the drug manufacturers themselves are opposed to the use of their medicines in executions.

The commission is urging that the state step back and take a careful look at the way in which it administers the death penalty to ensure that the state doesn't make mistakes.

What this commission (in Oklahoma) has done stands in stark contrast to what we're seeing in Arkansas.

California has a history of driving the car in both directions at... by Robert Dunham

California has a history of driving the car in both directions at the same time.

Both states have changed the way in which indigent capital defense is provided. Counsel makes a huge difference.

The long-term trends both for executions and for new death sentences show the death penalty in decline. There may be from time to time bumps both up and down but the long-term trend is clear.

Every time someone introduces a new method of execution, they make the same argument: 'Trust me. It will be quick. It will be painless. It is the most humane alternative,' they have a political or commercial interest in the outcome. And they haven't done any real medical or scientific research to back up their claims. And in every instance, sooner or later, something they didn't anticipate goes wrong.

One can't predict the likelihood that any given death sentence will be carried out, statistically, in both federal and state death penalty cases, it is more likely that a sentence will be overturned than that it will be carried out.

Many of the pretrial proceedings took place under seal and some of the sidebars were under seal, we will not know until those transcripts are unsealed what other issues may be present in the case.

The hasty manner in which this bill sped into law reflects the same lack of care with which Oklahoma has managed its execution process historically.