Otis Singleton
The death penalty is still law in Ohio, and lethal injection is the primary means of execution. However, an inmate can request electrocution, and Ohio adopted the electric chair as its preferred method of execution in 1897. The use of the electric chair has declined with the adoption of lethal injection, which is perceived as more humane.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is the electric chair legal in Ohio? | Yes, the electric chair is legal in Ohio. |
| Is the electric chair the primary means of execution in Ohio? | No, lethal injection is the primary means of execution in Ohio. |
| Can an inmate request electrocution? | Yes, an inmate can request electrocution. |
| Has Ohio executed anyone since 2019? | No, the state has not executed anyone since 2019. |
| What was the method of execution in Ohio for most of the 19th century? | Public hanging was the sole method of execution in Ohio for most of the 19th century. |
| When did Ohio start using the electric chair? | Ohio began using the electric chair in 1897. |
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What You'll Learn
Ohio's history of capital punishment
Ohio has used capital punishment since 1803, when it became a state. For most of the 19th century, public hanging was the sole method of execution. Offenders were executed in the counties where the crime took place. In 1885, executions were moved to the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus.
In 1897, Ohio began using the electric chair as its preferred method of execution. Only 28 people were executed by hanging before the state made the switch. The electric chair was used to execute 312 men and 3 women. The last person executed with the electric chair was Donald Reinbolt in 1963.
In 1974, Ohio reinstated the death penalty, which remains in effect as of 2024. The state now uses lethal injection for executions, although an inmate can request electrocution. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal in a capital case, ending the case.
In 2014, Ohio executed Dennis McGuire, who was convicted of raping and murdering a 22-year-old pregnant woman. He was the first U.S. inmate to be executed with a combination of midazolam and hydromorphone. The execution was botched, and McGuire struggled for a long time before he died. This incident helped usher in an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty. In 2018, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine halted all executions, citing the need for a new, constitutionally sound execution protocol. Ohio's last execution was in July of that year.
In 2020, Gov. DeWine placed an "unofficial moratorium" on capital punishment due to the state's inability to acquire lethal injection drugs. Lawmakers have considered nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative method of execution. As of 2024, capital punishment is still law in Ohio, but it faces opposition.
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Lethal injection as the primary means of execution
Lethal injection is the primary means of execution in almost all states where the death penalty is legal. Ohio is no exception. However, in 2021, Governor Mike DeWine stated that Ohio lawmakers must choose a different method of capital punishment before any future executions could be carried out. This was due to the state's inability to obtain the drugs required for lethal injections.
Ohio has a long history of capital punishment, dating back to 1803 when it achieved statehood. For most of the 19th century, public hanging was the sole method of execution. In 1897, the state adopted the electric chair as its preferred method of execution, which soon became the prevalent method across the United States. In recent years, lethal injection has become the primary means of execution in most states, including Ohio, which reinstated the death penalty in 1974.
While lethal injection is the primary method, inmates in Ohio can request electrocution as an alternative. This is a rare occurrence, as electrocution is often viewed as a more inhumane form of execution. In 2014, Ohio ran out of the drugs required for lethal injection, leading to a botched execution where the inmate struggled for 14 minutes before dying. This incident brought about an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty in Ohio, with Governor Mike DeWine halting all executions in 2019 to allow time for the development of a new, constitutionally sound execution protocol.
As of 2024, Ohio has not executed anyone since 2018 or 2019, and the death penalty continues to face opposition. Lawmakers have considered nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative to lethal injection, but no new method of execution has been chosen. It remains to be seen whether Ohio will reinstate lethal injection as its primary means of execution or adopt a different method.
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The electric chair as a secondary option
The death penalty is still law in Ohio, though the state has not executed anyone since 2018 or 2019. Lethal injection is the primary means of execution in Ohio, as is the case in most states where capital punishment is legal. However, inmates can request electrocution instead.
The electric chair was adopted by Ohio in 1897 and became the prevalent method of execution in the United States, replacing hanging. However, with the adoption of lethal injection, which was perceived as more humane, the use of the electric chair has declined.
In 2021, Governor Mike DeWine halted all executions in Ohio, stating that lawmakers must choose a different method of capital punishment before any executions can be carried out in the future. This was due to the state's inability to obtain lethal injection drugs, which was one of the reasons for challenges to the use of lethal injection.
As of 2025, electrocution remains an option in several states, including Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida, where inmates may choose lethal injection instead. In Ohio, inmates can request electrocution, making the electric chair a secondary option.
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The moratorium on the death penalty
The death penalty is still law in Ohio, and lethal injection is the primary means of execution. However, inmates can request electrocution as an alternative method. The electric chair was adopted by Ohio in 1897 and became the prevalent method of execution in the United States, replacing hanging.
Ohio experienced an imposed moratorium after the Furman v. Georgia case, which ushered in a national moratorium on the death penalty. The U.S. Supreme Court found that the death penalty violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Ohio reinstated the death penalty in 1974.
In 2014, Ohio's execution of Dennis McGuire using lethal injection was botched, and McGuire struggled for 14 minutes before he died. This incident helped usher in an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty in Ohio. In 2018, Governor Mike DeWine halted all Ohio executions to allow time for the development of a new, constitutionally sound execution protocol. Lawmakers have considered nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative method of execution.
As of 2024, Ohio has not executed anyone since 2019, and lethal injection drugs are difficult to obtain due to export bans by European countries. The state's last execution was in July 2018, and Governor DeWine has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent due to the lengthy appeals process.
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The future of capital punishment in Ohio
Ohio has a long history of capital punishment, dating back to 1803 when it achieved statehood. For most of the 19th century, public hanging was the sole method of execution, until the introduction of the electric chair in 1897.
The electric chair remained the primary method of execution in Ohio until the early 1990s, when lethal injection was adopted as a more humane alternative. While the electric chair is still an option for inmates in Ohio, with the choice left to the inmate, lethal injection has become the primary means of execution.
However, in 2021, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that lethal injection could no longer be used as an execution option. This was due to the state's inability to obtain the drugs required for lethal injection, as well as DeWine's skepticism about capital punishment's effectiveness as a deterrent because of the lengthy appeals process.
As a result, Ohio lawmakers are now faced with the challenge of choosing a different method of capital punishment before any future executions can take place. One alternative that has been considered is nitrogen hypoxia, following its use in Alabama in 2024. However, as of 2024, the death penalty remains in effect in Ohio, and it has been so since its reinstatement in 1974.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the electric chair is legal in Ohio.
No, from 1803 to 1885, Ohio executed offenders in the counties where the crimes took place. In 1885, executions were moved to the Ohio State Penitentiary. In 1897, Ohio began using the electric chair as its preferred method of execution.
Lethal injection is the primary method of execution in Ohio.
Yes, inmates can request electrocution.
No, Ohio's last execution was in July 2018, and the death penalty has been under an unofficial moratorium since.
