Idaho Established Firing Squad for Executions
A new law authorizing the firing squad took effect in Idaho following past difficulties with lethal injection.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Idaho implemented a law on July 1, 2026, establishing the firing squad as an execution method. This move followed the failed February 28, 2024, attempt to execute Thomas Creech, where medical staff could not establish an IV.
Why it matters
State officials modified execution facilities for central venous access after repeatedly failing to secure necessary drugs and venous sites for lethal injection. These procedural changes were driven by the inability to carry out standard protocols.
Medical personnel spent 58 minutes attempting to place IVs in the prisoner's limbs before the execution was called off. There are currently 8 people on Idaho's death row awaiting potential sentencing outcomes.
The players
Thomas Creech
A death row inmate who was the subject of a failed execution attempt in 2024.
Chad Daybell
A death row inmate who received a death sentence in 2024.
Robin Row
An inmate who has been held on Idaho's death row since 1993.
Richard Leavitt
The last individual to be executed by the state of Idaho in 2012.
Gerald Pizzuto
A death row inmate whose execution was delayed due to the state's inability to obtain required drugs.
The details
The Idaho Department of Correction modified its facility to allow for central venous access after failing to procure execution drugs for Gerald Pizzuto in 2022 and 2023. Staff had previously attempted to place IVs in the prisoner's arms, legs, hands, and feet without success.
Timeline
1977: Idaho enacted its current death penalty statute.
1993: Robin Row was placed on death row.
2012: Richard Leavitt was the last person executed in Idaho.
February 28, 2024: Idaho failed to execute Thomas Creech.
July 1, 2026: The firing squad law took effect.
Legal Context
Idaho's move toward firing squads follows a national trend of states reconsidering execution methods following the Tennessee execution protocol failure. This legislative shift marks a departure from traditional lethal injection reliance as states face persistent legal and practical hurdles.
The transition to a firing squad method impacts state penal operations and the public management of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Residents may see continued legal oversight regarding the constitutionality and application of these new execution protocols.
The takeaway
The implementation of the firing squad reflects the severe operational challenges states face in maintaining capital punishment. These changes highlight the ongoing difficulty of securing medical supplies and staff for lethal injections.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's legal framework at Criminal Justice.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KBOI.
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