Originally published Sept. 18 by IdahoReports .
The Idaho Department of Correction is currently renovating the execution chamber at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, according to building permits from the Division of Occupational & Professional Licenses.
The change comes after the failed execution attempt of 74-year-old Thomas Creech on Feb. 28, in which the medical team could not establish an IV line to carry out his execution by lethal injection. The department called off his execution.
On Wednesday, IDOC spokesperson Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic verified the work is happening in an area of the facility known as the F block, where IDOC carries out executions.
“In order to comply with (Idaho law), which requires us to have the ability to carry out an execution by firing squad, we have implemented a phased approach to retrofitting the F Block, our current execution chamber,” Kuzeta-Cerimagic wrote in an email to Idaho Reports. “Phase one of the F Block retrofit included making modifications to the existing configurations and is nearing completion. We are currently in phase two of the retrofit, evaluating design and layout options for accommodating a firing squad.”