Three executions were carried out in 2022 in Arizona, marking the end of an eight-year pause following the botched execution of Joseph Wood in 2014, which transpired for a distressing duration of more than two hours.

Executions in 2022 included:
Clarence Dixon, a blind Navajo nation member suffering from long term schizophrenia. He did not understand why he was being executed.
Frank Atwood, a Greek Orthodox Monk confined to a wheelchair who maintained his innocence for over three decades.
Murray Hooper, who was convicted without forensic evidence and maintained his innocence for almost 40 years. Murray fought for DNA testing on the murder weapon that could have pointed to the perpetrators of the crime although his testing request was denied in Superior court.

Prior to 2014 the state of Arizona engaged in illicit endeavors to procure lethal injection drugs. Considerable financial resources were allocated toward the refurbishment of the gas chamber, as well as the acquisition of unidentified drugs from undisclosed suppliers while Arizonans were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and the state dealing with a budget shortfall. Arizona Department of Correction has not demonstrated any transparency behind the process of their execution protocol, drug purchases, or in the qualification of the staff who participate in executions.

Arizona's justice system is riddled with fundamental flaws and exhibits a propensity for punitive measures and displays a prioritization of private prison expansion over the pursuit of rehabilitation and the solutions to address many of the underlying systemic issues contributing to criminal behavior.

Regrettably Attorney General Mark Brnovich during the final months of his term in 2022, decided to restart executions displaying an unwavering determination that disregarded the presence of mental illnesses, physical disabilities, inadequate legal representation, racial bias, and potential cases of wrongful convictions.

In June 2023, the recent exoneration and release of Barry Jones after spending 29 years on death row for a wrongful conviction serves as a stark reminder of Arizona's extensive history of erroneous judgments. In addition to the state’s troubled sentencing record, all three executions carried out last year by the Arizona Department of Corrections encountered complications in following their own execution protocols.

In January 2023, Governor Hobbs paused executions while a serious review and investigation into the protocols is conducted.

While the investigation is much needed to create transparency behind a hidden and secretive process, a greater step must be taken to stop to end the death penalty in Arizona for good.

Take action, sign the petition and let members of the Arizona legislature and Governor Hobbs know that Arizona needs to invest in solutions to the prevention of crime instead of more killing. It’s time to abolish the death penalty in Arizona.