Tortured to Death in Alabama – The Atlantic

Report on Capital Punishment Practices in Alabama and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: State Execution Methods and Human Rights Concerns

An analysis of recent capital punishment procedures in the state of Alabama reveals significant challenges to the principles outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16, which calls for peace, justice, and strong institutions. Following a series of flawed lethal injections in 2022, the state adopted nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative execution method. However, its implementation has raised profound questions regarding human rights, institutional accountability, and the commitment to reducing all forms of violence, a key target of SDG 16.

Case Study: The Execution of Anthony Boyd

The execution of Anthony Boyd serves as a critical case study in the failure of this new method to align with principles of humane treatment and justice. The procedure deviated significantly from its intended purpose of being a painless alternative.

• Method: Execution by nitrogen suffocation.
• Duration: Over 30 minutes, making it the longest recorded nitrogen execution.
• Observed Effects: Witnesses reported that Boyd gasped for air over 200 times and convulsed against his restraints, indicating a prolonged and torturous death.
• Precedent: This event followed the similarly troubled execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, the first individual executed by this method, who also exhibited signs of extreme distress.

Such outcomes directly contravene the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, undermining the rule of law and equal access to justice as mandated by SDG 16.3.

Analysis of Institutional Failures and SDG 16

The continued use of a demonstrably problematic execution method points to systemic institutional failures that are inconsistent with the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions (SDG 16.6). The judicial and correctional systems have failed to ensure that the ultimate penalty is administered in a manner that respects fundamental human dignity.

1. Initial Failure: A series of botched lethal injections in 2022 demonstrated an inability to carry out executions consistently and humanely.
2. Flawed Solution: The adoption of nitrogen hypoxia was presented as a solution but has proven to be equally, if not more, brutal in practice.
3. Judicial Oversight: The decision to permit Boyd’s execution, despite a dissenting opinion from Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Kagan that explicitly warned of its potential for cruelty, highlights a weakening of judicial safeguards intended to protect constitutional rights.

Civil Society Engagement and the Pursuit of Justice

Prior to his execution, Anthony Boyd was an active participant in civil society efforts to reform the justice system, aligning with the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). His work underscores the vital role of advocacy in holding institutions accountable.

• Leadership: Boyd served as the chairman of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty, a prisoner-led organization advocating for the end of capital punishment.
• Advocacy: He published a newsletter, “On Wings of Hope,” to chronicle the experiences of individuals on death row and to campaign for justice.
• Contribution: His efforts represent a critical form of engagement aimed at strengthening institutions and promoting a more just society, in line with the core objectives of SDG 16.

Conclusion: The Death Penalty as a Barrier to Sustainable Development

The events in Alabama demonstrate that the practice of capital punishment, particularly when administered through methods that inflict prolonged suffering, is a significant barrier to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals. The search for a “humane” method of execution appears to be a paradox, as the act itself is an extreme form of violence that contradicts the global agenda for a more peaceful and just world.

• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The practice undermines this goal by perpetuating state-sanctioned violence, failing to ensure the rule of law, and reflecting a lack of institutional accountability.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The infliction of extreme physical and psychological torture during executions is in direct opposition to the promotion of well-being.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Capital punishment systems are often criticized for disproportionately affecting marginalized populations, thereby failing to ensure equal access to justice and reinforcing systemic inequalities.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The primary Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) addressed in the article is SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article directly engages with the theme of justice by discussing the Eighth Amendment’s ban on “cruel and unusual punishment” and whether the state of Alabama’s execution methods violate this constitutional protection.
   • It critiques the justice system, citing Anthony Boyd’s view that “courts have become so hell bent on helping states preserve their killing machines that they’ve lost their compass.” This points to a failure of institutions to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights.
   • The article highlights the lack of accountability and transparency in state institutions, noting that “Prisoners in Alabama are sequenced for execution by a secret calculus known only to state officials.”
   • The core subject, capital punishment, and the “spectacularly brutal” execution of Anthony Boyd, represent a form of state-sanctioned violence and a potential violation of fundamental human rights, which are central to SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Several targets under SDG 16 are relevant to the issues discussed in the article.

   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

     While this target often refers to conflict and crime, state-sanctioned executions are a form of violence resulting in death. The article’s detailed description of Boyd’s execution as a “spectacularly brutal” process that involved “gasped for air more than 200 times” and took “more than 30 minutes to die” directly relates to the violent nature of capital punishment.

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

     This target is central to the article’s argument. The text questions whether the rule of law is being upheld, specifically the Eighth Amendment. The dissent from Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Kagan, stating the court “turns its back on Boyd and on the Eighth Amendment’s guarantee,” explicitly points to a failure in the justice system to protect constitutional rights. Boyd’s own activism through “Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty” was a fight for what he perceived as justice.

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

     The article critiques the effectiveness and accountability of Alabama’s correctional institutions. The reference to a “series of botched lethal injections” and the failure of the nitrogen hypoxia “experiment” demonstrate institutional ineffectiveness. The lack of transparency is highlighted by the “secret calculus” used to schedule executions, suggesting a system that is not open to public scrutiny or accountability.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it provides specific details and events that can serve as qualitative and quantitative indicators for the identified targets.

   Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

   • For Target 16.1 (Reduce violence):
     • Incidence of “botched” or prolonged executions: The article provides a clear indicator of failure by describing Boyd’s execution as the “most protracted nitrogen suffocation in history,” lasting over 30 minutes. This can be measured and compared to other executions.
     • Prevalence of execution methods considered cruel or torturous: The article’s focus on nitrogen hypoxia as a “ghastly process” and its comparison to other “horrendous and grisly” methods like hanging and electrocution serve as a qualitative indicator of the level of violence involved.
   • For Target 16.3 (Promote rule of law):
     • Number and outcome of legal challenges to execution methods: The article mentions Boyd’s “final Court appeal” and the legal challenges that followed the 2022 botched injections. Tracking these legal actions and their judicial outcomes is a direct measure of how the justice system is applying the rule of law.
     • Judicial decisions and dissents on human rights: The dissent by Justices Sotomayor and Kagan is a powerful indicator of division within the highest court on upholding constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
   • For Target 16.6 (Develop accountable institutions):
     • Transparency of correctional procedures: The mention of a “secret calculus” for sequencing executions implies a lack of transparency. An indicator of progress would be the establishment of clear, public, and reviewable criteria for such decisions.
     • Institutional response to failed procedures: The fact that correctional officials proceeded with Boyd’s execution using a method that had already proven “deeply troubled” with Kenneth Eugene Smith indicates a lack of accountability and institutional learning.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.	Number and rate of state-sanctioned executions. Incidence of “botched” executions (e.g., prolonged duration, observable suffering). Use of execution methods described as cruel or torturous (e.g., nitrogen hypoxia as detailed in the article).
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.	Number of legal appeals filed against execution methods on constitutional grounds (e.g., Eighth Amendment). Judicial rulings and dissents related to capital punishment and human rights. Existence and activity of advocacy groups working to ensure justice (e.g., Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty).
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.	Level of transparency in correctional procedures (e.g., existence of a “secret calculus” for scheduling executions). Institutional changes made in response to failed or problematic executions. Public reporting on the effectiveness and humaneness of execution methods.

Source: theatlantic.com