Florida prison officials are asking legislators to enact more layers of secrecy around the state’s execution methods. As the Miami Herald reports, a bill would make confidential any records that “could responsibly lead to the identification of any person or entity participating in an execution.”
Staff attorney, Virginia Hamrick, told the Herald that more sunshine is needed when it comes to executions. While exemptions already exist to protect the identity of person administering the lethal injection or execution, this bill would expand existing law, prohibiting the release of information that could lead to the identification of an entity or person participating in an execution. The constitutionally required public necessity statement is based on unsubstantiated hypotheticals that disclosure could jeopardize the harm or safety of the individuals or entities participating in an execution or could thwart the ability of the Department of Corrections to obtain the necessary personnel or drugs.