State considers moving executions to Bonne Terre

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Corrections may move its execution chamber away from the maximum security prison that houses death row inmates, spokesman John Fougere said Friday. Under the plan, the inmate scheduled to be put to death would be moved about 25 miles to the Eastern Reception Diagnostic Correctional Center in Bonne Terre days before the execution, Fougere said. No final decision has been made, and Fougere said there was no timetable. The first execution after the state reinstated the death penalty in 1989 was in Jefferson City; the 60 since then have been at the Potosi Correctional Center, including two last year.

Fougere said the Bonne Terre prison was built to handle executions, while the Potosi was not, and is not ideally suited for them. Besides having an execution chamber with three different viewing areas -- one for state witnesses, one for friends and family of the victim, and one for friends and family of the inmate -- the Bonne Terre prison also has a special cell for the inmate's last day. The cell has a stainless steel shower and toilet and a shatterproof glass window.

Also, performing executions at the prison where the condemned inmate lives is difficult emotionally for other prisoners and even staff.

"It's true that the officers are with the offenders for a number of years," Fougere said. "That is a consideration."

Because the Bonne Terre prison was built for executions, the cost of the change would be minimal, Fougere said.

At the Bonne Terre City Council meeting Tuesday, Police Chief Fred Mallow said he had been told by prison officials that an execution would take place next month in Bonne Terre. He said police were alerted to prepare for possible protesters.

But Fougere said the state Supreme Court has not yet set a date for the next execution.

In preparation for the possible move, staff at the Bonne Terre prison have begun receiving training on how to handle executions, Superintendent Jim Purkett said.