In December 2024, the Tennessee Department of Correction issued a new execution protocol that uses a single drug, pentobarbital.
November 10, 2025
high
policy
Change to the state's lethal-injection protocol specifying a single-drug regimen.
Reported Tennessee execution protocol outlines that after syringes containing saline and pentobarbital are administered a team leader signals the warden, a five-minute waiting period begins, then blinds are closed and cameras turned off before a medical professional determines death and the warden announces that the sentence was carried out.
October 29, 2025
high
procedural
Step-by-step elements of the execution protocol as described in reporting.
As of 2025, the state of Arizona uses pentobarbital administered by intravenous injection as a method of execution.
October 17, 2025
high
operational
Describes the chemical and administration route used in Arizona's executions
Lethal injection executions involve preparing syringes of saline and pentobarbital, inserting an intravenous line, and injecting the chemicals, and execution teams can include medical doctors and a phlebotomist.
October 17, 2025
high
procedural
General description of steps and personnel involved in a lethal injection protocol
Pentobarbital is a drug used in lethal injection protocols for carrying out executions.
October 09, 2025
high
pharmaceutical
Pentobarbital is one of the drugs employed in some U.S. lethal-injection procedures.
Legal challenges to executions sometimes raise concerns about the use and storage conditions (including temperature control) of lethal-injection drugs such as pentobarbital.
October 09, 2025
high
legal
Litigation over executions can focus on whether execution drugs were properly handled and stored.
Pentobarbital is a barbiturate that has been used as an active drug in lethal injection protocols for executions.
October 08, 2025
high
temporal
Pentobarbital has been employed by jurisdictions as one of the pharmaceutical agents in lethal injection execution protocols.
Pentobarbital is a powerful sedative that is used in lethal injection protocols for executions.
high
medical
Describes a drug commonly used in execution protocols and associated concerns about its handling and availability.
South Carolina's lethal injection protocols have included the sedative pentobarbital administered in two doses in recent executions.
medium
procedural
Describes the sedative component reported as part of South Carolina's lethal injection procedure.