[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, S. DAK.

[Rick Halperin]

Feb. 24



TEXAS:

Drug drives up cost of executions--Price tag went from $83 to almost $1,300; 
previous substance no longer made


As Texasprison officials face the likelihood that 1 of the 3 drugs used int he 
nation's busiest execution chamber may no longer be available, they are facing 
another reality: The cost of executions is skyrocketing as well.

A year ago, it cost the Texas Department of Criminal Justice $83.35 to carry 
our an execution.

But since the state was forced to switch from one powerful sedative to another, 
the cost in now $1,286.99.

That means that the 12 executions so far with the new drug have cost taxpayers 
about $15,400, instead of $1,000.

"The cost of all 3 drugs has gone up, but the overall increase is because of 
pentobarbital," Jason Clark, a spokesman for the corrections agency, said 
Thursday.

Nearly a year ago, in March 2011, the state replaced sodium thiopental with 
pentobarbital in its 3-drug execution cocktail after the maker of sodium 
thiopental stopped producing it amid international protests over its use in 
executions in the United States.

Now, the manufacturer of pentobarbital says it will seek to block its use for 
executions.

And while Texas prison officials say they have enough of the drug to carry out 
the 5 executions scheduled so far this year, they are not discussing any 
details concerning their suppliers or exactly how much of the drug they have on 
hand -- or what they plan to do next.

Other states are grappling with the same issues.

Officials in Oklahoma, Ohio, Mississippi adn South Carolina have confimed they 
are paying higher prices for execution drugs, just like Texas.

Jerry Massie, spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, said that 
because of the higher-priced pentobarbital, his state's cost for an execution 
has risen from $200 to about $1,800.

"We have enough for 4 executions," with 2 currently scheduled, Massie said.

In several states, the switch from sodium thiopental to pentobarbital triggered 
litigation and lengthy regulatory hearings.

In Texas, the change was made with relative ease after lawsuits challenging its 
use were turned aside by courts.

But officials agree that changing to a new drug would probably spark the same 
opposition from condemned convicts and their attorneys and could possibly delay 
executions.

Corrections officials in Texas and other states are saying little about what 
drug they might switch to if the supply of pentobarbital dries up.

But propopfol is frequently mentioned in private conversatinos.

That is the power sedative that was blamed in the death of entertainer Michael 
Jackson in June 2009.

(source: Dallas Morning News)






SOUTH DAKOTA:

Warrant of Execution for Rodney Berget issued


Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that the warrant of execution 
for Rodney Scott Berget has been issued by Second Circuit Court Judge Bradley 
Zell.

Berget is scheduled to be executed between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 
p.m., during the week of Sunday, September 9, 2012, through Saturday, September 
15, 2012, inclusive, at a specific time and date to be selected by the Warden 
of the State Penitentiary.

Pursuant to South Dakota law, there is an automatic appeal whereby the record 
of the proceedings will be forwarded to the South Dakota Supreme Court to 
determine whether the sentence of death was properly imposed; whether the 
evidence at trial supports the Judge's finding of at least 1 statutory 
aggravating factor; and whether the sentence of death is excessively 
disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the 
crime and the defendant.

South Dakota law further provides that, "The Governor may make such 
investigation of the case as the Governor may deem proper and may require the 
assistance of the attorney general."

Both the Supreme Court and the Governor have the authority to suspend the 
execution of sentence scheduled by the trial judge until their respective 
reviews are complete.

(source: KSFY News)