"State botching execution investigation," is the editorial published in today's Tulsa World.
Since the curtain came down 16 minutes into the state's botched effort to execute murderer Clayton Lockett in April, the state has maintained a cloak of secrecy over what happened and why.
Thirty-nine days later, by maintaining that secrecy, the state appears determined to botch the investigation into the Lockett affair as badly as it botched the execution.
And:
Capital punishment is the ultimate expression of governmental power. It must be used constitutionally, efficiently and transparently.
All evidence at this point is that Oklahoma has failed on all three accounts.
"Okla. prisons take no action on execution probe," is by Sean Murphy of Associated Press, via the Enid News & Eagle.
Oklahoma Board of Corrections met behind closed doors for part of its meeting Thursday for a briefing on an investigation into the botched execution of a death row inmate.
After meeting privately for about 45 minutes with the seven-member board and the agency's general counsel at the Mack Alford Correctional Center, Oklahoma's prison chief Robert Patton declined to discuss anything related to the April 29 execution of Clayton Lockett.
"I'm informed (the Department of Public Safety) is making very good progress on its investigation," Patton said. "Once the investigation is complete, I'll be happy to sit down with anyone and talk about any changes that need to be made, but not until that time."
Public bodies in Oklahoma are authorized to go into closed-door sessions to discuss ongoing investigations and possible litigation, among other things.
And:
Patton has said previously he supports an extensive review of Oklahoma's protocols and plans to explore best practices from other states. Among the changes he has already recommended is making the director, not the prison warden, responsible for all decisions regarding the execution. He also has said prison staff will "require extensive training and understanding of new protocols before an execution can be scheduled."
Earlier coverage of Oklahoma's botched execution begins at the link.
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