A new study by Reprieve, a legal action nonprofit, has revealed that racial bias persists in the U.S. criminal justice system, even in the execution chamber. The study analyzed all recorded conducted and attempted lethal injection procedures in the last half century and found that Black people have a 220 percent higher chance of experiencing a botched execution than white people. The report focuses on 73 botched executions out of 1,407 total executions between 1977 and 2023, highlighting racial disparities in the administration of lethal injections in states like Arkansas, Georgia, and Oklahoma. The findings refute claims that lethal injections are quick and painless, as botched procedures have been found to be prolonged and painful, with some people showing signs of choking, vomiting, and bleeding.
