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Home My WebLink AboutFiring Squad AdministrationIDAHO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION Firing Squad Administration Updated 06/08/2026 Firing Squad Administration Page 1 of A. Modifications to Protocols and Procedures 1. There must be no deviation from the procedures in this protocol without prior consent from the Director of IDOC. 2. A member of the Administrative Team must monitor and ensure compliance with protocols and procedures related to the preparation and administration of firing squad. B. Firing Squad Team 1. The Firing Squad Team shall consist of: a. Three Team members b. Two Alternate Team members c. A Team Leader 2. The three-member team shall carry out a firing squad execution. 3. The two alternate members shall replace any member of the three-member team if that member is unable to discharge the functions required by this protocol or the SOP. 4. All six members will serve on the Firing Squad Team. They must all meet the minimum qualifications and comply with all training, rehearsal, and other requirements set out in the SOP. C. Firing Squad Equipment Check and Inventory 1. The Deputy Chief of the Division of Prisons shall be responsible for obtaining and safely storing all equipment and supplies necessary to carry out a firing squad execution. The Director has approved the use of .308 Caliber Rifles and .308 or 7.62 110 grain ammunition in a firing squad execution. 2. The Deputy Chief of Prisons and Firing Squad Team Leader shall be responsible for conducting equipment checks and maintaining equipment and supply inventory. 3. The Deputy Chief of Prisons and Firing Squad Team Leader shall confirm that all execution equipment is stored properly on IDOC premises. The equipment shall be cleaned after every training. The annual maintenance and inspection schedule will comply with SOP 152.002, Firearms. D. Preparation of Equipment 1. Deputy Chief of Prisons and Firing Squad Team will prepare the firing squad equipment on the day of the scheduled execution. The Firing Squad Team Leader will supervise all activities related to equipment preparation. The Firing Squad Team Leader will create a list of identifiers of the Firing Squad Team Members present and each member’s assigned role. 2. The Firing Squad Team Leader shall load one live round in three separate magazines for each weapon. The Firing Squad Team Leader will issue a firearm and three magazines to each of the three members of Firing Squad Team. The Alternate Firing Squad Team Members will remain in the Firing Squad Room, ready to stand in for any of the three members. E. Preparation of the Condemned Person 1. The condemned person will be offered a mild sedative. The sedative must be provided to the condemned person no later than four hours prior to the execution unless it is IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION Firing Squad Administration Updated 06/08/2026 Firing Squad Administration Page 2 of determined medically necessary. F. Movement and Monitoring of the Condemned Person 1. The witnesses will be escorted to the designated witness areas. 2. Prior to moving the condemned person from the isolation cell to the Execution Chamber, the Director will confer with the Idaho Attorney General, or designee, and the Idaho Governor, or designee, to confirm there is no legal impediment to proceeding with the lawful execution. 3. At the designated time, the Escort Team will secure the condemned person with the appropriate restraints and move the condemned person to the Execution Chamber. 4. The Escort Team will transfer and secure the condemned to the execution chair ensuring all restraints are secured. The Escort Team Leader will then personally inspect the restraints and confirm they are not so restrictive as to impede the condemned person’s circulation, yet sufficient to prevent the condemned person from moving. 5. The Medical Team Leader will enter the Execution Chamber. The Medical Team Leader will adhere the EKG leads to the condemned person and verify the EKG monitor is recording the electrical and mechanical activity of the condemned person’s heart. 6. The Medical Team Leader will adhere the target to the condemned person’s chest directly over the heart. After adhering the target to the condemned person’s chest, the Medical Team Leader will retire to the Medical Room. 7. Medical Team Leader will notify the Director that the condemned is prepared. G. Execution by Firing Squad 1. The Escort Team will open the window coverings for the viewing areas. 2. The Director will read aloud the death warrant and provide an opportunity for the condemned to say any last word. 3. If requested by the condemned person, the Escort Team will place an eye covering on the condemned person and exit the chamber. 4. If there are no legal impediments or a stay of the execution, the Director will notify the Firing Squad Team Leader that the execution will now commence. 5. The Firing Squad Team members will then load each weapon and stand by for direction to fire. 6. The Firing Squad Leader will begin the cadence for fire. When directed by the Firing Squad Leader’s cadence, the Firing Squad Team Members will fire. The volley of fire should be conducted simultaneously. 7. The Medical Team Leader will mark the following EKG graph paper with the assigned identifier: a. Commencement of the execution b. The volley of fire c. Asystole 8. The Medical Team Leader will maintain constant observation of the EKG monitor and determine if Asystole has been established. Asystole means the electrical and mechanical activity of the condemned person’s heart has ceased. IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION Firing Squad Administration Updated 06/08/2026 Firing Squad Administration Page 3 of 9. The Director shall wait a maximum of two minutes after the volley of fire and then ask the Medical Team Leader for a status report. The Medical Team Leader shall report whether Asystole has been established. At any time during these two minutes, the Director may order a subsequent volley of fire after consultation with the Medical Team leader. 10. If there are no signs of life and Asystole has been established, the Director will instruct the Firing Squad Team Leader to stand down and place the weapons on safe. H. Completion of Execution 1. When all electrical and mechanical activity of the heart has ceased as shown by the EKG monitor, the Director will advise the Ada County Coroner that the procedure has been completed. 2. The Ada County Coroner will enter the chamber to examine the condemned person and pronounce the death. 3. The Director will announce that the sentence of death has been carried out as ordered. 4. The witnesses will be escorted from the Execution Unit back to the respective staging and exit locations. I. Documentation of Ammunition and Stay 1. Upon completion of the execution or when a stay exceeding 24 hours is granted, all logs, the list of identifiers, and the EKG monitor tape will be submitted to the designated member of the Administrative Team responsible for retention. 2. Upon completion of the execution, the Administrative Team will ensure the Firing Squad Team secures the expended casings and places them in an evidence bag. The Firing Squad Team Leader will start a chain of custody form. The expended casings and chain of custody form will be submitted to the designated member of the Administrative Team responsible for retention.