Trystan Casey
Florida has used capital punishment for nearly 200 years, with the first known execution in the state being that of Benjamin Donica, who was hanged for murder in 1827. In 1923, the Florida Legislature abolished public hangings and made electrocution the official method of execution. The electric chair, nicknamed Old Sparky, was used until 1999, when the state switched to lethal injection following several botched executions. Lethal injection is now the default method of execution in Florida, but inmates can still choose to die in the electric chair.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the first known execution in Florida | 1827 |
| Method of the first known execution in Florida | Hanging |
| Name of the first person to be executed in Florida | Benjamin Donica |
| Crime committed by Benjamin Donica | Murder |
| Year Florida Legislature made electrocution the official method of execution | 1923 |
| Year of the first electrocution in Florida | 1924 |
| Name of the first person to be executed by electrocution in Florida | Frank Johnson |
| Year of the last execution by electrocution in Florida | 1999 |
| Name of the last person to be executed by electrocution in Florida | Allen Lee Davis |
| Year Florida switched to execution by lethal injection | 2000 |
| Number of executions by lethal injection since 2000 | 57 |
| Number of executions by electrocution since 2000 | 0 |
| Current default method of execution in Florida | Lethal injection |
| Number of death row inmates in Florida | 291 |
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What You'll Learn
Florida's electric chair, Old Sparky, was used from 1924 to 1999
Florida's electric chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky", was used from 1924 to 1999. The first person to be executed by electrocution in Florida was Frank Johnson on October 7, 1924. Electrocution was the only method of execution in Florida until 2000, when the state switched to lethal injection following the controversial death of Allen Lee Davis.
Before 1923, executions in Florida were carried out by county governments, usually by hanging. In 1923, the Florida Legislature passed a law making electrocution the official method of execution. The electric chair was originally housed at Union Correctional Institution but was moved to Florida State Prison in 1962.
In the 1990s, Florida's use of the electric chair came under strong controversy after three executions were labelled as "botched" by opponents: Jesse Tafero, Pedro Medina, and Allen Lee Davis. During their executions, flames were seen shooting out of Tafero's and Medina's heads. It was later determined that the saline-soaked sponge used to deliver the 2,300-volt spark had been replaced with a synthetic sponge that caught fire during the execution.
Today, lethal injection is the default method of execution in Florida. However, inmates can still choose to die in the electric chair. Florida is one of eight states that still have the electric chair on the books and allow inmates to select their method of execution.
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Lethal injection is the default method of execution in Florida
Florida has a long history of capital punishment, with the first known execution in the state occurring in 1827 when Benjamin Donica was hanged for murder. The state has used capital punishment for nearly 200 years. The method of execution in Florida has evolved over time, and currently, lethal injection is the default method.
In 1923, the Florida Legislature abolished public hangings and authorized the use of the electric chair as a more humane method of execution. The electric chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky," became the sole method of execution in Florida until 2000. The electric chair gained media attention in the 1990s due to several "`botched`" executions, including those of Jesse Tafero, Pedro Medina, and Allen Lee Davis. These incidents prompted the state to switch to lethal injection as the primary method of execution.
Lethal injection has been the default method of execution in Florida since 2000, and all death row inmates executed since then have undergone this process. The state's lethal injection protocol involves the use of three chemicals: etomidate, an anesthetic; rocuronium bromide, a paralytic muscle relaxer; and potassium acetate, which stops the heart, followed by an injection of a saline solution. The execution team includes a designated member who prepares the lethal chemicals and ensures each syringe is appropriately labeled, and two members from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement oversee the process.
While lethal injection is the default method, death row inmates in Florida do have a choice between lethal injection and electrocution. Inmates can request to be executed by electrocution, and the state will carry out this method if chosen. However, the electric chair has not been used for executions in Florida since the 2000 law giving inmates the choice was enacted. As of 2023, there were 291 inmates on Florida's death row, and the state has carried out 105 executions since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
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Inmates can choose to die in the electric chair
Florida has a long history of capital punishment, with the first known execution in the state taking place in 1827 when Benjamin Donica was hanged for murder. In 1923, the Florida Legislature abolished public hangings and made electrocution the official method of execution. This method was used until 1999 when Allen Lee Davis was executed, becoming the last person to die by electrocution in Florida.
Following Davis's execution, the state of Florida switched to execution by lethal injection. Lethal injection is now the default method of execution in Florida, and all death row inmates executed since 2000 have undergone this process. However, inmates can still choose to die in the electric chair if they wish. This is because, according to state law, a person convicted and sentenced to death for a capital crime has one opportunity to elect execution by electrocution. This election must be personally made by the person in writing and delivered to the warden of the correctional facility.
Florida is one of eight states that still have the electric chair on the books and one of a handful of states that allow inmates to select how they will be executed. The electric chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky", gained media attention in the 1990s after three executions were labelled as "botched" by opponents. During the executions of Jesse Tafero and Pedro Medina, flames were seen shooting out of their heads. It was later determined that the saline-soaked sponge used to deliver the electric spark had been replaced with a synthetic sponge that caught fire.
The death chamber in Florida is located at Florida State Prison in Raiford. The executioner is a private citizen whose identity is protected by state law and is paid $150 per execution.
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Florida's death row threshold is the lowest in the country
Florida has had a long history of capital punishment, with the first known execution in the state carried out in 1827. In 1923, the Florida Legislature passed a law replacing hanging with the electric chair, and all executions were placed under state jurisdiction. The electric chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky", was built by Florida Department of Corrections staff and installed at Florida State Prison in 1999. In 2000, legislation was passed to allow lethal injection as an alternative method of execution.
In April 2023, Florida's death row threshold became the lowest in the country following Gov. Ron DeSantis' signing of a new bill. The bill allows juries to recommend a death sentence with an 8-to-4 vote, changing the previous requirement of a unanimous decision from all 12 jurors. This has sparked a renewed debate about the use of capital punishment in the state. Florida's death penalty law allows for the execution of individuals convicted of certain crimes. While the requirement for a unanimous jury conviction for a capital felony case remains unchanged, the new law lowers the threshold for imposing the death penalty. Once a defendant is eligible, prosecutors must convince eight of the 12 jurors that the defendant deserves the death penalty. If the threshold isn't met, the jury's recommendation will be a life sentence. The decision then moves to a trial judge, who has the discretion to determine and justify the final sentence.
Supporters of the new law argue that it will make it easier for prosecutors to seek justice for victims and their families. Opponents, however, worry that it will lead to more wrongful convictions and executions. Florida leads the nation in death row exonerations, with 30 people exonerated since the 1970s. This highlights the concerns about the potential for innocent people to be wrongly convicted and sentenced to death.
In addition to the lowered threshold, Florida has also expanded the scope of the death penalty. In May 2023, Governor DeSantis signed a bill allowing the death penalty for defendants convicted of child rape, despite likely unconstitutionality. This bill was in response to a Broward County jury's rejection of the death penalty for the man who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. The state also proposed a bill in April 2025 to introduce the death penalty for human trafficking of a child below 12 years of age. These developments indicate a trend towards a lower threshold for capital punishment in Florida.
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Florida has used capital punishment for nearly 200 years
Florida has a long history of capital punishment, with the first known execution in the state occurring almost 200 years ago. In 1827, Benjamin Donica was hanged for murder, with the public hanging being overseen and performed by the sheriff of the county where the crime took place. This continued to be the method of execution in Florida until 1923, when the Florida Legislature passed a law replacing hanging with the electric chair.
The electric chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky", was originally housed at Union Correctional Institution before being moved to Florida State Prison in 1962. The first person to be executed by electrocution in Florida was Frank Johnson on October 7, 1924. Electrocution remained the sole method of execution in Florida until 2000, when the state began using lethal injection following the controversial death of Allen Lee Davis.
In 2023, Florida housed 291 death row inmates, 288 men and three women. The state continues to allow executions by lethal injection and electrocution, with lethal injection being the default method. Inmates can, however, request to be executed by electrocution. Florida was the first state to carry out a non-voluntary execution post-Gregg v. Georgia when it executed John Spenkelink in 1979.
In recent years, there have been several attempts to introduce new methods of execution in Florida. In March 2025, a bill was proposed to allow executions by firing squad, nitrogen gas, or other methods permitted under the constitution if lethal injection is unavailable. Additionally, in April 2025, another bill was proposed to introduce the death penalty for human trafficking of a child below 12 years of age. These proposed changes reflect the ongoing debate and legal challenges surrounding capital punishment in Florida.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, death row inmates in Florida can still choose to die in the electric chair, but lethal injection is the default method.
The electric chair was adopted as the official method of execution in 1923, with the first electrocution taking place on October 7, 1924.
The electric chair was considered a more humane method of execution than hanging, which was previously carried out by county sheriffs in public.
No, the last person to be executed by electric chair in Florida was Allen Lee Davis in July 1999. Since 2000, all executions have been carried out by lethal injection.
