Legal Status of North Carolina Death by Firing Squad
North Carolina law currently authorizes lethal injection as the primary execution method. A secondary method, death by firing squad, exists in statute but remains inactive. The state has not conducted an execution since 2006. The last person executed in North Carolina was Samuel Flippen, who was put to death by lethal injection on August 18, 2006. The state's lethal injection protocol has been under legal scrutiny, leading to a de facto moratorium. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety oversees the state's correctional facilities and execution protocols. The current legal framework is defined in North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 15, Article 3. The statute allows a judge to order death by firing squad if lethal injection drugs are unavailable. This provision has not been activated in modern practice. The state's capital punishment system remains a subject of ongoing legal and political debate. For more on the legal framework, see the North Carolina General Assembly website here.
The financial cost of maintaining a death row inmate in North Carolina is substantial. A 2011 study by the Duke University School of Law estimated that capital cases cost the state approximately $2.16 million more than non-capital cases. This figure includes pre-trial litigation, trial costs, and appellate proceedings. The state spends an average of $35,000 per year per inmate on housing and healthcare. The total cost of a single execution, factoring in all legal and procedural expenses, can exceed several million dollars. These figures highlight the economic burden of the death penalty system. The North Carolina Department of Corrections manages the state's prison population, which includes those on death row. The high cost of capital litigation is a key factor in the ongoing debate about the method of execution. For a detailed breakdown of incarceration costs, see the Prison Policy Initiative here.
Comparison of Execution Methods and Costs
Lethal Injection vs. Firing Squad
Lethal injection is the standard method in North Carolina and most U.S. states. The protocol typically involves a three-drug combination. The primary drug is a barbiturate for anesthesia, followed by a paralytic agent, and then potassium chloride to stop the heart. The availability of these drugs has become a major challenge for states. Pharmaceutical companies increasingly refuse to supply drugs for executions. This supply chain issue has led states to explore alternative methods. The cost of lethal injection drugs is relatively low, but the legal challenges to their procurement are expensive. In contrast, a firing squad is considered a simpler and more reliable method. The equipment cost for a firing squad is minimal. The primary expense is the legal process to authorize its use. The debate over methods often centers on the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. For a comparison of execution methods, see the Death Penalty Information Center here.
The firing squad method involves a squad of five to seven law enforcement officers. One or more shooters use live rounds while others have blank cartridges. The squad aims at the chest of the condemned person from a distance of 20 to 25 feet. A white target is placed over the heart. The immediate cause of death is massive blood loss and organ failure. Proponents argue this method is more humane and certain than lethal injection. Critics point to the potential for physical trauma and the psychological impact on the firing squad members. The method has been used in Utah, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Utah was the first state to use a firing squad in the modern era, executing Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010. The method has gained renewed interest as states face difficulties with lethal injection protocols. For more on the mechanics of capital punishment, see the Bureau of Justice Statistics here.