The protocol does not provide an opportunity for people sentenced to death to
speak at the public hearing. Kentucky law mandates that “each person who
wishes to offer comment” should be given an opportunity to speak. The people
who will be most affected by the protocol should have the opportunity to
comment on it.
The protocol prohibits media interviews with the condemned person on the
day of the scheduled execution. The condemned person has the right to talk
to the public about the process and the public has the right to gain
information about the process through the media.
The protocol does not guarantee legal visits before 7:30 a.m. or after 2:30 p.m.
before the day of the scheduled execution. During that critically important
time, the condemned person must have more extensive access to counsel.
The protocol prohibits family and friends from visiting the condemned person
on the day of the scheduled execution. The condemned person should be
permitted to see their family and friends, and have contact visits with them,
on that day.
The protocol prohibits family and friends from bringing any item to visits
with the condemned person after the governor signs the execution warrant,
which is usually 22 to 30 days before the scheduled execution. This
prohibition stops family and friends from bringing even photographs to those
visits.
The protocol allows the Warden to limit the condemned person’s clothing to
one pair of underwear, one shirt, one pair of pants, and one pair of socks, once
the execution date is set. Condemned people should not be forced to wear the
same unwashed underwear and socks for 22 to 30 days or more.
The protocol prohibits the condemned person’s minister of record from
visiting them during the two hours before the scheduled execution. For the
death-sentenced people who want access to a spiritual advisor, they should be
permitted access much closer to the scheduled execution.
