Since Ohio resumed executions of capital offenders in 1999, the dignity of the inmate and the professionalism of the staff have been a top priority.
Today’s execution of John Glenn Roe, 41, which will take place at 10 a.m. at the southern Ohio correctional facility in Lucasville, is no exception. The staff expects the process to be carried out with the precision and professionalism executions require.
“As warden of Lucasville your main mission is to get the inmate through the exectuion,” said Steve Huffman, south regional director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Huffman was warden of Lucasville when he presided over Wilford Berry’s voluntary execution in 1989. It was the first execution since 1963. He said the process was “hard because it took 36 years for another execution. Not many people could say how it was done before.”
Roe will be the 10th person to die by lethal injection since Berry’s execution. Berry experienced a somewhat different execution process than Roe will face today.
The main differences in the two processes are the time of day and the introduction of cameras into the preparation room. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit with the ODRC to allow the press access to the entire process of the execution. The result of the suit was the introduction of cameras into the preparation room.
“We have been instructed to install these cameras,” said Andrea Dean, spokeswoman for the ODRC. “It is only in the preparation room.”
There is significant debate about the role of the camera and whether it may produce unruly behavior from the inmate. The issue was raised when Lewis Williams put up a monumental struggle with the execution team during the preparation process of his execution on Jan. 14.
In response to the issue, the TVs will go black when and if a struggle occurs.
“That is to preserve the dignity and professionalism,” Dean said.
The hope is that if the inmate knows he or she can’t get more exposure by lashing out, the process will remain calm and professional, she said.
Today’s execution will be presided by Warden James Haviland.
“There is a lot of work and preparation that goes into this,” Haviland said.
Before the execution there is a checklist and a command post forms the moment the inmate arrives, Haviland said. At that point, the warden is no longer involved in the day-to-day workings of the prison. Instead, other prison officials take over for him.
“We’re focusing on the execution. Our job is to get the inmate and his family through this,” Haviland said.
During the execution this morning only Warden Haviland and the execution team leader will be in the death chamber. The rest of the witnesses will look through large glass windows.
