Lawmakers, Attorneys To Hold Study On Death Penalty At State Capitol

A new study could impact the future of the death penalty in Oklahoma.

The study will begin at the capitol at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. It will focus mostly on practices and procedures surrounding the death penalty.

In February, Governor Kevin Stitt, Attorney General Mike Hunter, and the department of corrections announced plans to resume lethal injections after a five-year hiatus. The decision came after a reliable supply of drugs was found.

State leaders said then that executions could resume as early as July, but they have not moved forward yet.

Executions have been on hold in Oklahoma since 2015 because of two botched executions and drug mix-ups.

Death row inmate Richard Glossip's lethal injection was called off moments before it happened because the state had the wrong drugs. His attorney will be part of Wednesday's study, along with Attorney General Hunter, and DOC director Scott Crow.

State Representative Kevin McDugle who is hosting the study said in part quote:

"The majority of Oklahoman's agree with having the death penalty as an option,” McDugle said. “I just want to make sure that when we start the death penalty again that we are properly trained and that each individual we put to death is guilty and deserving." 

McDugle said he wants to make sure any new evidence is considered before death penalty cases are carried out.