Alan Johnson writes, "Ohio submits new lethal injection plan to judge," for the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio prison officials have submitted a modified lethal injection procedure to a federal judge in anticipation of resuming executions next month.
The protocol was part of a filing today with U.S. District Court Judge Gregory L. Frost who halted a July execution because he had concerns about the state’s “haphazard” lethal injection process.
“The new policy is the result of a comprehensive quality control review of all aspects of the management of the offender prior to and through the lethal injection procedure,” said Carlo LoParo, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. “It mandates explicit compliance with all aspects of the written policy directive.”
LoParo said the agency is moving head with plans for the Sept. 20 execution of Billy Slagle of Cuyahoga County.
On July 8, Frost indefinitely stayed the scheduled July 19 execution of Kenneth Wayne Smith, 45, of Hamilton, Ohio. He concluded that the state failed to follow its own execution procedures and protocol.
And:
LoParo said the process has not been changed significantly but “bolsters documentation and clarifies instructions.” He said it also requires an independent review of each lethal injection procedure to “assess and ensure adherence to the policy and provide recommendations for improvement.”
The AP report is, "Ohio's lethal injection policy updated," via WDTN-TV.
The state of Ohio will require an independent review of lethal injections as part of an update to its execution policy.
Prisons department spokesman Carlo LoParo says a "comprehensive rewriting" of the policy was filed Friday with U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost.
The judge had halted the July 19 execution of Kenneth Wayne Smith, citing "haphazard application" of certain death penalty protocols in the state.
The ruling led Gov. John Kasich to postpone an August execution to give the state time to address Frost's concerns.
Earlier coverage of the Ohio moratorium and lethal injection issues begins at the link.
Comments