Electrifying Someone: A Personal Architect's Guide

The electric chair, a method of execution that involves administering a lethal electric shock to a prisoner seated in a specially designed chair, has a long and controversial history. The process involves strapping the condemned person into a chair, attaching electrodes to their head and legs, and passing alternating currents of electricity through their body to cause lethal damage to internal organs. The first person in line for execution via New York's electric chair was Joseph Chapleau, but he was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment. The last person to be executed by electric chair without the choice of an alternative method was Lynda Lyon Block in 2002. While the use of the electric chair has declined due to the adoption of lethal injection, some US states still allow it, and it remains a method of execution in video games such as Prison Architect.

History of the electric chair

The electric chair was conceived in 1881 by Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, New York, as a more humane alternative to hanging. The idea emerged following a series of botched hangings in the United States, which sparked criticism of that form of capital punishment. In 1886, the New York State governor, David B. Hill, set up a commission to investigate a more humane means of execution.

The commission contacted electrical experts, including Elihu Thomson and Thomas Edison. They also attended electrocution experiments on dogs by George Fell, who had worked with Southwick in the early 1880s. In 1888, the commission recommended electrocution using Southwick's idea of an electric chair with metal conductors attached to the condemned person's head and feet.

The idea of using electricity as a method of execution was influenced by the spread of arc lighting, a type of outdoor street lighting that used high voltages. Accidents involving these high voltages, which often proved fatal, were frequently reported in newspapers during the late 1870s to early 1880s. One such incident in Buffalo, New York, in 1881, involved a drunken dock worker who sneaked into an arc lighting power house and grabbed a large electric dynamo, leading to his death.

The rivalry between Thomas Edison's direct current (DC) and George Westinghouse's alternating current (AC) systems also played a role in the development of the electric chair. Edison hoped to tarnish the reputation of AC by associating it with the electric chair. He actively campaigned for the selection of the Westinghouse chair, believing that consumers would not want the same type of electrical service in their homes that was used for execution. Despite Edison's efforts, AC technology prevailed, and 'electrocution' became associated with Westinghouse's name.

The first use of the electric chair as a means of legal execution took place in 1890, and it has since been used to execute over 4,300 individuals in 23 states. William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by the electric chair in the United States on August 6, 1890. However, his execution did not go as planned and sparked debates about the efficacy and humaneness of the electric chair.

While the use of the electric chair has declined in recent years, with many states now offering lethal injection as a more humane alternative, it remains an accepted method of execution in several states, including Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. South Carolina's electric chair, purchased in 1912, has been used 248 times, with the most recent use being in 2008.

How to set up an electric chair

Setting up an electric chair requires a number of steps and components. Firstly, it is important to decide on the type of chair and its intended use. For instance, if it is for a performance or Halloween prop, as many electric chair setups are, you may want to incorporate special effects such as vibration, sound, and lighting.

For the chair itself, you can use a regular chair and modify it, or build a chair from scratch. Sanding and staining the chair to give it a particular look is also an option. If you want to include a mannequin or dummy in the chair, you can purchase one and modify it to fit, or build a frame for the dummy using PVC pipe. You can then dress the mannequin or dummy in clothing, such as an orange jumpsuit, and add restraints like leather straps for the wrists, ankles, and chest.

To create the effect of electrocution, some people have used a jig saw mounted to the back of the chair, with a PVC pipe connecting the saw to the dummy. This allows the dummy to move as if being electrocuted. Others have used wiper motors or variable-speed drills to create a bouncing effect. To add sound, speakers can be mounted to the chair and even inside the mannequin's throat, to give the impression that the screams are coming from the person being electrocuted. Strobe lights and fog machines can also enhance the effect, and all of these components can be controlled by a central controller.

If you want to include a headset on the chair, this can be fabricated from aluminium bar stock, and attached to the chair with a panel mount conduit coupling. For a more interactive experience, you can add buttons or triggers that allow people to activate the chair themselves, simulating the execution.

It is important to note that the use of electric chairs as a method of execution has been declared "cruel and unusual punishment" and is no longer practised. Any setup described here is intended for performance or prop purposes only.

Procedure of electric chair execution

The electric chair is a device used for capital punishment through electrocution. The procedure for electric chair execution involves several steps to carry out the process. Firstly, the condemned person is strapped to a custom wooden chair with belts across the chest, groin, legs, and arms. This restraint ensures that the individual remains secured in the chair during the procedure.

Secondly, as a part of the preparation, the prisoner's head is shaved, and a metal skullcap-shaped electrode is attached to the scalp and forehead. A sponge or an additional electrode moistened with saline or conductive jelly is placed over the electrode to ensure optimal conductivity. The moisture level of the sponge is crucial; it must be neither too wet nor too dry to avoid short circuits or high resistance, respectively.

Once the prisoner is prepared, they are blindfolded, and the execution team withdraws to the observation room. The executioner then pulls a handle to connect the power supply, delivering a jolt of between 500 and 2000 volts of electricity, which lasts for about 30 seconds. The electric current is then turned off, and doctors wait for the body to cool down before checking for vital signs. If the prisoner's heart is still beating, another jolt of electricity is applied. This process is repeated until the prisoner is pronounced dead.

The electric chair was conceived in 1881 as a more humane alternative to hanging and was first used for execution in 1890. While electrocution was once a widely adopted method of execution in the United States, it has now largely been replaced by lethal injection. As of 2025, electrocution remains an option in some states, such as Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida, where inmates can choose between electrocution and lethal injection. However, some states, like Nebraska, have ruled electric chair executions as "cruel and unusual punishment," deeming them unconstitutional.

Alternatives to the electric chair

The electric chair is a device used for capital punishment through electrocution. It was conceived in 1881 as a more humane alternative to hanging and was first used in 1890. However, the electric chair has faced criticism and is now considered by some to be "cruel and unusual punishment". As a result, many states have moved away from using the electric chair as a method of execution, instead opting for alternatives such as:

Lethal Injection

Lethal injection is the most widely used method of execution in the United States today. It is considered by some to be a calmer and less violent alternative to electrocution. The process typically involves administering a series of injections: one to sedate the inmate, followed by others that paralyze them and stop their heart. However, lethal injection is not without its controversies. Inmates have expressed fears of feeling intense discomfort while the drugs take effect, and there has been resistance from drug manufacturers to provide the drugs typically used in lethal injections.

Firing Squad

The firing squad is an alternative method of execution that has been used in recent years. In 2025, a death row inmate in South Carolina chose the firing squad over lethal injection and the electric chair. The firing squad protocol involves strapping the condemned person to a seat and placing a hood over their head. Three volunteers then shoot the inmate from a distance of 15 feet, standing behind a wall with a small opening. While this method has raised concerns over the safety of observers, it is nonetheless an alternative to the electric chair that is authorized in four states.

Gas Chamber

The gas chamber is another alternative to the electric chair that has been used historically. First adopted in Nevada in 1922, the gas chamber was intended to execute prisoners while they slept. Today, five states authorize lethal gas as a method of execution, but all offer lethal injection as an alternative. The process involves strapping the condemned person to a chair in an airtight chamber. A bucket of sulfuric acid is placed below the chair, and a long stethoscope is affixed to the prisoner so that a doctor outside the chamber can pronounce death. While this method was intended to be more humane, it has faced criticism and has been declared "cruel and unusual punishment" by a federal court in California.

Hanging

Hanging is another method of execution that has been used historically, with the last state-sanctioned execution by hanging carried out in Delaware in 1996. While it is no longer a primary means of execution, it is still allowed as an alternative method in the state of New Hampshire. However, New Hampshire has since abolished the death penalty, and the repeal may not apply retroactively, leaving an inmate on death row facing possible execution by hanging.

Notable electric chair executions

The electric chair is a device used for capital punishment through electrocution. The person being executed is strapped to a custom wooden chair and electrocuted via electrodes attached to the head and leg. The electric chair was conceived in 1881 by Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, New York, as a more humane alternative to hanging.

Since its conception, several notable individuals have been executed via the electric chair, including:

William Kemmler

On August 6, 1890, William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by the electric chair. Kemmler was convicted of murdering his lover, Matilda Ziegler, with an axe. His execution was botched, requiring two attempts to kill him. The first charge of 700 volts was delivered for 17 seconds, after which Kemmler was still alive, so a second charge of 1,030 volts was applied for about two minutes, resulting in smoke being observed coming from Kemmler's head.

Hamilton Howard "Albert" Fish

Hamilton Howard "Albert" Fish (May 19, 1870 -- January 16, 1936) was an American serial killer, child rapist, and cannibal. He confessed to several murders and was convicted and executed by electric chair for the kidnapping and murder of Grace Budd.

Peter Kudzinowski

Peter Kudzinowski (August 13, 1903 -- December 21, 1929) was an American serial killer convicted of the murders of 20-year-old Harry Quinn, five-year-old Julia Mlodzianowski, and seven-year-old Joseph Storelli. He confessed to his crimes while jailed for public intoxication and was executed by electric chair at Trenton State Prison.

Ted Bundy

Theodore Robert Bundy (November 24, 1946 -- January 24, 1989) was an American serial killer and necrophile who kidnapped, raped, and murdered numerous young women and girls during the 1970s. Bundy was executed in the electric chair at Florida State Prison on January 24, 1989, after receiving three death sentences in two separate trials.

While the electric chair was once a common method of execution in the United States, its use has declined in recent years, with lethal injection now being the primary method in most states. However, some states, such as Tennessee, still offer inmates the choice between lethal injection and the electric chair.

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