Inside Alabama’s Death Penalty: The Process, the People and the Debate

Alabama remains one of the nation’s most active death penalty states, yet many residents know little about how executions are carried out or the legal, ethical, and human questions surrounding them.

Through a four-part investigative series, journalist Ashonti Ford examines every stage of Alabama’s capital punishment system—from sentencing and execution protocols to the perspectives of prosecutors, defense attorneys, faith leaders, victims’ advocates, and those who have witnessed executions firsthand.

The project explores Alabama’s recent adoption of nitrogen hypoxia, the state’s evolving execution procedures, and the ongoing legal and public policy debates surrounding capital punishment. By combining in-depth reporting, expert interviews, and firsthand accounts, the series aims to move beyond political talking points and provide audiences with factual, balanced reporting on one of the state’s most consequential criminal justice issues.

Rather than advocating for or against the death penalty, Ford’s reporting seeks to help audiences better understand how the system operates, why it continues to generate national attention, and how differing viewpoints shape the conversation about justice, accountability, and the future of capital punishment in Alabama.