Idaho has officially adopted the firing squad as its primary method for carrying out executions, a policy shift prompted by a botched lethal injection attempt last year. Effective July 1, the state now defaults to firing squads, making it the sole state in the U.S. to utilize this method as its primary option.
Republican Gov. Brad Little signed the legislation into law, with implementation delayed until 2025 to allow the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) time to renovate its execution chamber. The state has invested over $1.2 million in the facility, including more than $900,000 for construction and an additional $314,000 for architectural and engineering services. The state has also purchased five .308 Winchester rifles equipped with scopes, suppressors, and bipods for the executions.
The new protocol requires six volunteer law enforcement officers for each execution. Three primary shooters will fire simultaneously, with two alternates on standby. A sixth officer will act as team leader, responsible for loading the rifles and directing the procedure. To ensure confidentiality, the identities of these volunteers will remain secret, known only to the prison director and deputy director.
Volunteers must be certified Idaho law enforcement officers with at least three years of experience. They must not have any disciplinary actions related to excessive force or firearms, nor can they be related to the inmate, victim, or their families. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency by repeatedly hitting a heart-sized target during qualification tests.
Before an execution, inmates may be offered a mild sedative. On the day of the execution, the inmate will be escorted to the chamber, strapped into a specially designed chair, and fitted with monitoring equipment. After the death warrant is read and the inmate is offered a final statement, the three shooters will fire simultaneously from approximately 10 yards away, aiming through a narrow opening. Medical personnel will monitor the inmate's heart rate for up to two minutes. If the inmate survives the initial volley, officials can authorize a second series of shots before death is pronounced by the coroner.
To maintain readiness, firing squad members will undergo quarterly live-fire training and participate in regular rehearsals. Weekly training sessions and multiple full rehearsals will precede any scheduled execution.
The policy change follows the failed execution of Thomas Eugene Creech in February 2024, where execution staff spent approximately an hour attempting to establish an intravenous line for lethal injection before abandoning the procedure. Idaho has not carried out an execution since June 2012. The state currently has eight individuals on death row.
Supporters of the firing squad method argue it provides a more reliable execution process compared to the difficulties encountered with lethal injection drugs nationwide. However, critics, including Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, argue that this change does not address the ethical concerns surrounding capital punishment and that new methods, like previous ones, will ultimately prove flawed. IDOC Director Bree Derrick stated that the department's procedures are designed to ensure executions are conducted in a secure, orderly, and dignified manner, safeguarding rights and maintaining safety for all involved.