Hanging

Hanging was the primary method of execution in the United States until the 1890s. This method of execution is still used in Delaware and Washington, but they have an alternative option: lethal injection. Hanging is done using a rope with measurements between .75"-1.25" in diameter. The rope is then boiled and stretched to eliminate spring or coiling. They weigh the person to determine the proper length of fall. The knot is lubricated with wax or soap to ensure a smooth sliding action. The inmate is blindfolded and his hands and legs are tied up. The noose is placed around the neck behind the left ear.

The prisoner's weight should cause dislocation of the neck, and if the drop is too short or the inmate has too strong of a neck or the noose has been wrongly positioned, the dislocation is not rapid and the inmate dies from slow asphyxiation. If this occurs the face becomes engorged, the tongue protrudes, the eyes pop, the body defecates, and violent movements of the limbs occur.