In North Carolina hatten Verurteilte bis 1998 die Möglichkeit sich zwischen zwei Hinrichtungsverfahren zu entscheiden. So konnten sie zwischen dem Tod in der Gaskammer oder den Tod mittels einer tödlichen Injektion wählen. Am 29. Oktober 1998 trat eine gesetzliche Änderung in Kraft, die von da an, nur noch die tödliche Injektion als alleiniges Hinrichtungsinstrument vorsieht. Die wichtigsten Passagen der Gesetzesänderung sind hier veröffentlicht.


ABOLISH EXECUTION BY LETHAL GAS AND PROVIDE THAT A PERSON CONVICTED OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE WHO IS SENTENCED TO DEATH SHALL BE EXECUTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF LETHAL DRUGS

Section 17.22. (a) G.S. 15-187 reads as rewritten GS 15-187. Death by administration of lethal gas or drugs.

Death by electrocution under sentence of law is hereby abolished and death by the administration of lethal gas substituted therefor, except that if any person sentenced to death so chooses, he may at least five days prior to his execution date, elect in writing to be executed by the administration of a lethal quantity of an ultrashort acting barbiturate in combination with a chemical paralytic agent. under sentence of law are abolished. any person convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to death shall be executed only by the administration of a lethal quantity of an ultrashort acting barbiturate in combination with a chemical paralytic agent.

(b) G.S. 15-188 reads as rewritten:

G.S. 15-188. Manner and place of execution.

Except as otherwise provided in In accordance with G.S. 15-187, the mode of executing a death sentence must in every case be by causing administering to the convict or felon to inhale lethal gas of sufficient quantity to cause death, and the administration of such lethal gas must be continued until such a lethal quantity of an ultrashort acting barbiturate in combination with a chemical paralytic agent until the convict or felon is dead; and when any person, convict or felon shall be sentenced by any court of the State having competent jurisdiction to be so executed, such the punishment shall only be inflicted within a permanent death chamber which the superintendent of the State penitentiary is hereby authorized and directed to provide within the walls of the North Carolina penitentiary at Raleigh, North Carolina. The superintendent of the State penitentiary shall also cause to be provided, in conformity with this Article, and approved by the Governor and Council of State, the necessary appliances for the infliction of this punishment of death in accordance with the requirements of this Article. appliances for the infliction of the punishment of death and qualified personnel to set up and prepare the injection, administer the preinjections, insert the IV catheter, and to perform other tasks required for this procedure in accordance with the requirements of this Article."

c) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to all executions after the effective date of this section.