A recent report released by the anti-death penalty organization Reprieve highlights alarming racial disparities in botched lethal injection executions, shedding light on the systemic racial bias embedded within capital punishment. The analysis shows that Black inmates face a 220 percent greater likelihood of suffering from a botched lethal injection execution compared to their white counterparts, regardless of the specific drug protocol used.

The report's findings challenge the commonly held belief that lethal injection is a quick, peaceful, and painless method of execution. Contrary to this notion, the study reveals that over a third of botched lethal injection executions lasted longer than 45 minutes, with more than a quarter extending beyond an hour. Some cases even surpassed three hours, as was the instance of a Black man in Alabama in 2022. These botched executions were characterized by individuals choking, vomiting, and experiencing significant bleeding within the execution chamber.

Out of a total of 465 executions of Black inmates, approximately 8 percent were botched, while only 4 percent of the 780 executions of white inmates experienced similar complications. The report cites specific case studies, including the 2014 botched execution of Clayton Lockett, a Black man in Oklahoma, to demonstrate the extent of the problem. Lockett's execution lasted for 43 agonizing minutes as the execution team struggled to insert IV lines, ultimately resulting in an untested drug cocktail entering his system and causing excruciating pain before his eventual death from a heart attack.

These disparities in botched executions are not limited to specific states. Arkansas, Georgia, and Oklahoma experienced particularly high rates of botched lethal injections of Black inmates, despite their respective percentages of Black executions ranging from 30 to 33 percent. The report attributes these botched executions to factors such as secrecy, illicit drug procurement, poor quality drugs, and haste.

Examining the broader context of the death penalty, longstanding concerns about racial disparities come to the forefront. Previous studies have shown that Black people represent over 41 percent of death row inmates, despite making up just 13 percent of the population. Furthermore, the study reveals that individuals who kill Black victims are less likely to face the death penalty, intensifying the inequality and racial bias prevalent within the system.

In response to the report's shocking revelations, a growing number of lawmakers are calling for action. Representatives Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Cory Booker (N.J.) are among those advocating for the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act and urging the Department of Justice to enforce regulations governing the drugs used in executions nationwide.

Reprieve is demanding an immediate moratorium on all lethal injection executions at both the state and federal levels, emphasizing the need for greater transparency throughout the process. The report recommends recording the start time of an execution as the moment when officials begin to prepare the individual for the lethal injection, aiming to hold authorities accountable for the prolonged and painful experiences endured by those facing execution.

The release of this report serves as a powerful reminder that the death penalty is rooted in racial bias and raises critical questions about the ethics of capital punishment. As discussions surrounding the future of the death penalty continue, addressing these disparities is crucial in achieving a more just and equitable system of justice.