A question posted recently to Quora asks, “How does one work their way into a job as an executioner?” Retired police officer Tim Dees gives his response below.
In the U.S. prison system, there is no single “executioner.” At the time of execution, the warden or superintendent usually reads the execution order from the court, and gives the order for the execution to be carried out. He is usually the only one with a sole-person responsibility.
Most states use lethal injection as the method of execution. In some of these, a machine manufactured by Fred A. Leuchter delivers the drugs that kill the inmate. The machine is controlled by three key switches. When the execution order is given, three corrections officers (COs) assigned to this task turn their keys. Only one of the switches is “live,” so it is uncertain which CO initiated the procedure. In cases where the Leuchter machine is not used, three or more IV lines are run into a room adjacent to the
In the rare instance a firing squad is used, one rifleman will be given a rifle loaded with a blank round. The blank round will have an extra-large powder charge, so the recoil from the blank will be similar to that of a live round. None of the COs knows who has the blank round, so none are certain they participated in the execution.
COs assigned to execution details are usually volunteers. When they are assigned for lack of volunteers, those with a significant objection to being on the detail are usually excused. While some might think otherwise, it’s not a popular assignment. Most people who have witnessed an execution never want to see another one.
