Otis Singleton
The electric chair was once the most widely used method of execution in the United States, but it has since been criticised as cruel and unusual punishment. The electric chair was first introduced in New York in 1888 as a quicker and more humane alternative to hanging. The length of time it takes to kill someone with this method depends on the protocol and voltage used, but a typical electrocution lasts about two minutes. In 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that execution by electric chair was unconstitutional, and today, no state uses electrocution as the sole method of execution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First electric chair built | 1888 |
| First execution | 1890 |
| Voltage | Between 500 and 2000 volts |
| Duration of jolt | About 30 seconds |
| Execution protocol in 2004 | 15-second application of current at 2,450 volts |
| Execution protocol in 2007 | 20-second application of current at 2,450 volts |
| Execution protocol before 2004 | 8-second application of current at 2,450 volts, followed by a 1-second pause, then a 22-second application at 480 volts |
| Time taken for execution | About two minutes |
| Last electrocution | 2013 |
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What You'll Learn
Electric chair execution protocol
The electric chair is a device used for capital punishment through electrocution. The electric chair was conceived in 1881 as a more humane alternative to hanging. The first electric chair was built in 1888 and the first execution was carried out in 1890.
The person being executed is usually shaved and strapped to a chair with belts that cross their chest, groin, legs, and arms. A metal skullcap-shaped electrode is attached to the scalp and forehead over a sponge moistened with saline. The sponge must not be too wet, as this would short-circuit the electric current, nor too dry, as this would cause very high resistance. An additional electrode is moistened with conductive jelly and attached to a shaved portion of the prisoner's leg to reduce resistance to electricity. The prisoner is then blindfolded.
After the execution team has withdrawn to the observation room, the warden signals the executioner, who pulls a handle to connect the power supply. A jolt of between 500 and 2000 volts, which lasts for about 30 seconds, is given. The current is then turned off, and the body is seen to relax. The doctors wait a few seconds for the body to cool down and then check to see if the prisoner's heart is still beating. If it is, another jolt is applied. This process continues until the prisoner is dead.
Criticisms of the Electric Chair
The electric chair has been criticised because of several instances in which prisoners were killed only after being subjected to multiple electric shocks. There have also been instances in which the electric chair failed to kill the prisoner, with botched electrocutions occurring in 1946 and the 1990s. In 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that execution by electric chair was “cruel and unusual punishment”, ending its use in Nebraska, the last state to rely solely on this method.
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Botched electrocutions
The electric chair was conceived in 1881 as a more humane alternative to hanging. However, its introduction was a false promise of a better way to execute, and it has been involved in several botched executions. "Botched" refers to instances involving unanticipated problems or delays that cause unnecessary agony for the prisoner or reflect gross incompetence of the executioner.
The first execution using the electric chair in 1890 was botched. William Kemmler was executed in New York, and after an initial 17-second administration of high-voltage electric current, a doctor declared him dead. However, Kemmler then let out a deep groan, and witnesses reported the smell of burning flesh. Two witnesses fainted, and several others suffered severe nausea. Newspapers called the execution a "historic bungle" and "disgusting, sickening, and inhuman."
In 1946, the electric chair failed to kill Willie Francis, who reportedly screamed, "Take it off! Let me breathe!". It was found that the portable electric chair had been improperly set up by an intoxicated prison guard and inmate. Francis was returned to the electric chair and executed in 1947.
In 1990, Florida saw a highly controversial botched electrocution of Jesse Tafero, where his face and head caught fire. Justice Leander Shaw described the execution as a "barbaric spectacle" and an "act more befitting a violent murderer than a civilized state." In the same year, South Carolina executed Ernest Willis, whose heart continued to beat after the initial jolt, requiring an additional series of shocks that resulted in a nearly six-minute electrocution.
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Alternatives to the electric chair
The electric chair has been criticised for being a cruel and unusual form of punishment, with several instances of subjects being killed only after multiple electric shocks. In 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that execution by electric chair was "cruel and unusual punishment", marking a significant shift in the legal perception of this method.
There are several alternative methods of execution that have been used or are currently in use.
Lethal Injection
Lethal injection is the most widely used method of execution today, and is considered by lawmakers to be a calmer and less violent alternative to electrocution. The procedure involves a series of injections, the first being to sedate the prisoner, followed by injections to paralyse them and stop their heart.
Lethal Gas
In 1924, Nevada introduced the use of cyanide gas as a more humane way of executing prisoners. The gas is pumped into an airtight chamber, with a pail of sulphuric acid placed below the chair. A long stethoscope is affixed to the prisoner so that a doctor outside the chamber can pronounce death.
Firing Squad
The firing squad has been used historically as a method of execution, and is still authorised in some states as an alternative if lethal injection is unavailable or deemed unconstitutional.
Hanging
Hanging was the primary method of execution before the introduction of the electric chair, which was originally conceived as a more humane alternative.
Nitrogen Gas
In 2025, Louisiana executed a prisoner using nitrogen gas, only the second state to use this method.
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History of the electric chair
The idea for the electric chair as a means of execution came about in the late 19th century, during a period of intense rivalry between Thomas Edison's direct current (DC) and George Westinghouse's alternating current (AC) systems. Edison, a supporter of DC, saw an opportunity to tarnish AC's reputation by associating it with the electric chair. The idea of using electricity as a method of execution first emerged in the 1880s, following a series of botched hangings in the United States that sparked criticism of that form of capital punishment.
In 1886, the New York State Government established a legislative commission, chaired by human rights advocate and reformer Elbridge Thomas Gerry, to investigate more humane means of execution. The commission surveyed the history of execution, consulted government officials, lawyers, and medical experts, and contacted electrical experts, including Elihu Thomson and Edison. They also attended electrocution experiments on dogs conducted by George Fell, who had worked with Dr Alfred P. Southwick in the early 1880s.
In 1888, the commission recommended electrocution using Southwick's electric chair idea with metal conductors attached to the condemned person's head and feet. The New York Legislature passed a law establishing electrocution as the state's official method of execution. However, the first electric chair execution did not take place until 1890, when William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by the electric chair in the United States. The electric chair became a symbolic figure of capital punishment in the United States and was also used extensively in the Philippines.
Over time, the use of the electric chair as a method of execution has faced numerous legal and ethical challenges, with debates over its constitutionality, efficacy, and humaneness. In 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled electric chair execution as "cruel and unusual punishment" under the state constitution, ending its use in Nebraska, the last state to rely solely on this method. As of 2025, electrocution remains an option in some states, where inmates may choose lethal injection instead.
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Public perception of the electric chair
The electric chair was conceived in 1881 by Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, New York. It was developed over the next decade as a more humane alternative to conventional executions, particularly hanging. The electric chair was first used in 1890 and became a symbolic figure of capital punishment in the United States.
However, this perception changed as instances of botched executions came to light, where condemned individuals experienced prolonged suffering. Critics argued that the premise of a painless death through electrocution was contradicted by the grim reality of its application. The highly publicized execution of William Kemmler in 1890, for example, was described as a grotesque and fiery failure.
As the 20th century progressed, lethal injection emerged as an alternative to the electric chair. The public perception of the electric chair continued to shift, with some states eventually turning to lethal injection as their primary choice due to concerns about the barbaric nature of electric chairs, especially for viewers.
In recent times, the electric chair has become less common, with only a few states still employing it as an execution method. In 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that execution by electric chair constituted "cruel and unusual punishment", further diminishing its acceptance. Despite this, some inmates on death row continue to choose the electric chair over lethal injection, which they believe to be a more torturous method.
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Frequently asked questions
The length of time it takes for the electric chair to kill someone varies. A typical electrocution lasts about two minutes, but there have been cases where it has taken longer. In 1985, it took 17 minutes and five cycles of current to kill William Vandiver.
No, there is no evidence that electrocution can instantaneously kill an inmate. The idea of the electric chair inducing instant unconsciousness has been disproven.
Yes, the court has called electrocution "inconsistent with both the concepts of evolving standards of decency and the dignity of man". Even if an inmate survives only fifteen or thirty seconds, they would suffer the experience of being burned alive.
The electric chair remains an accepted alternative in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma if other execution methods are ruled unconstitutional at the time of execution.
