Inside America’s Execution Chamber: A Reporter’s Rare Witness to State-Sanctioned Death
Thu 1 Jan 2026
For more than two decades, journalist Jeffrey Collins has stood where few reporters are ever allowed: inside the execution chamber, watching the final moments of men condemned to death by the state. Based in South Carolina and working for the Associated Press, Collins has witnessed 14 executions, making him one of the most experienced execution observers in modern American journalism.
His role became even more significant after South Carolina resumed executions in 2025, ending a 13-year hiatus caused by the unavailability of lethal injection drugs. In just 14 months, the state carried out seven executions, placing renewed attention on capital punishment, transparency, and the human reality behind legal decisions.
The Revival of Capital Punishment in South Carolina
Executions resumed after lawmakers approved legislation allowing the state to obtain pentobarbital, a sedative used in lethal injections, while protecting the identities of drug suppliers. The secrecy surrounding this process reignited long-standing debates over accountability and oversight in death penalty cases.
Under current South Carolina law, death row inmates must choose their method of execution: lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad. In 2025, three inmates selected death by firing squad, a method rarely used in contemporary American justice.
Because executions are not filmed or publicly broadcast, journalists authorized to witness them serve as the only independent observers. Their written accounts often become crucial legal references, cited by courts, attorneys, and human rights advocates.
What an Execution Looks Like from Inside
Collins has observed all three execution methods. Lethal injections, he notes, are typically slow and clinical, with breathing gradually weakening before stopping entirely. Electrocution is far more violent, involving intense electrical jolts that cause the body to tense uncontrollably.
Firing squad executions are the most abrupt. The inmate is tightly restrained and hooded, facing away from witnesses. A red target is placed over the heart. After a brief, silent pause, a single gunshot ends the execution. There is no countdown, no warning — only sudden finality.
One particularly controversial firing squad execution raised serious concerns. The inmate reportedly made audible sounds after being shot, prompting legal challenges alleging that the execution was botched. State officials denied any wrongdoing, highlighting how limited visibility fuels ongoing disputes.
The Emotional Cost of Bearing Witness
Witnessing executions carries a profound emotional burden. Collins describes moments of intense humanity inside the chamber: victims’ families seeking closure, attorneys visibly shaken, and condemned inmates sharing final glances with loved ones.
Armed with only a pen and a notepad, Collins documents every observable detail with care. He avoids interpretation, focusing strictly on what unfolds before him. Accuracy, he emphasizes, is essential because his words may be the only public record of the execution.
To cope with the psychological toll, Collins deliberately reconnects with ordinary life afterward — spending time with family or engaging in everyday activities that reaffirm life beyond the execution chamber.
Secrecy, Transparency, and Public Accountability
South Carolina’s execution procedures remain largely hidden from public view. Journalists do not see how IV lines are placed, how shooters are trained, or how targets are positioned. By the time the witness curtain opens, critical steps have already occurred.
Collins argues that greater transparency is essential. While he opposes public broadcasts, he believes executions should be video recorded and sealed, allowing courts to review procedures when questions arise.
“The death penalty is a decision made by society through its elected officials,” he argues. “If that’s the choice, then people deserve to know what it actually looks like.”
Why These Witness Accounts Matter
As newsroom resources shrink and government processes grow more opaque, firsthand reporting from execution chambers has become increasingly rare — and increasingly important.
These accounts do more than document death. They force the public to confront the reality of capital punishment beyond legal theory or political debate. As long as executions continue, witnesses like Jeffrey Collins remain a critical link between state power and public accountability.