Louisiana resume executions after 15 years and approve execution protocol which includes death by asphyxiation

Governor Jeff Landry announced recently that the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections have finalised and implemented an updated execution protocol which includes procedures for the use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution.

There has been some criticism from criminal justice advocates regarding the decision as a “waste of money” and further, that “having the death penalty on the books is very expensive and not a deterrent. This money should be put towards teaching incarcerated people job skills so that they don’t return to prison.”

Samantha Kennedy, the executive director of the Promise of Justice Initiative, an advocacy group based in New Orleans made a statement saying that “killing people is wrong. Always. Using gas to kill people is barbaric.” You can read more here.