HELENA – The Montana State Prison plans to begin construction this spring on a $300,000 multipurpose room that could be used to hold executions, if needed.
The state plans to remove a single-wide trailer that has been used for three executions since 1995, leaving the state without an immediate way to execute the two men facing the death penalty.
Department of Corrections spokesman Bob Anez says the 800-square-foot room will mostly be used for storage.
Death row inmate Ronald A. Smith has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the state’s lethal injection method of execution. The lawsuit has been put on hold while the issue of the execution chamber is addressed.
Helena attorney Ron Waterman says part of the problem with the state’s lethal injection execution method relates to the trailer. He says more modern execution chambers look like surgical suites and are equipped to handle any problems that might arise.