Proposed law in Montana to restart lethal injections falls short by narrow margin
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Ronald Smith is shown on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Graveland
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana senate has narrowly defeated a bill that would have removed obstacles that prevent the state from resuming executions.
The decision directly affects Canadian Ronald Smith, originally from Red Deer, Alta., who has been on death row since 1983.
All executions have been stayed in Montana since 2015, because the state requires use of an ultra-fast-acting barbiturate, which is no longer available.
Montana’s house of representatives passed a bill amending the protocol to allow for any substance in a lethal quantity sufficient to cause death.
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Proposed law in Montana to restart lethal injections falls short by narrow margin
Ronald Smith is shown on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Graveland April 15, 2021 - 3:32 PM
HELENA, Mont. - The Montana senate narrowly defeated a bill Thursday that would have allowed the state to resume lethal injections.
The decision directly affects Ronald Smith, originally from Red Deer, Alta., who has been on death row since 1983.
All executions have been stayed in Montana since 2015 because the state requires the use of an ultra-fast-acting barbiturate, which is no longer available.
Montana s house of representatives passed the bill that would have amended protocol to include any substance in a lethal quantity sufficient to cause death. But the senate voted it down 26-24, with seven Republicans joining 19 Democrats.
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Montana correctional facilities to reopen for visitors
April 12, 2021
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HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana s correctional facilities are scheduled to reopen for visitors and volunteers later this month after more than a year of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The state s new corrections director, Brian Gootkin, said in a statement Friday that the department’s medical staff consulted with public health officials to create its reopening plan.
“We are thrilled that we can reopen visitation for the inmates in our secure facilities,” Gootkin said in an email. “COVID-19 has thrown many challenges at our facilities and staff, and I’m so proud of the work they have done to keep each other and our inmates safe. Now, it’s time to reunite families with their loved ones.”