The Nevada Department of Corrections is still moving forward with plans for a new execution facility in Ely in light of pharmaceutical powerhouse, Pfizer, halting its sell of lethal injection drugs last Friday. Reno Public Radio’s Marcus Lavergne reports:
Department of Correction’s spokeswoman Brooke Keast says plans for the nearly $858,000 facility will continue, but she doesn’t know how quickly.
“It’s our legislature, the voters and the people of Nevada that will ultimately make the decision on what happens with this stuff,” Keast said.
Pfizer is the most recent company to discontinue the use of its Food and Drug administration approved-drugs for lethal injection, the only method for execution used in Nevada.
The move represents a national distancing by drug makers from the death penalty.
Currently, 82 Nevada death row inmates don’t have court-ordered execution dates, but Keast says Nevada will have the appropriate means to execute if the order comes through.