Oklahoma officials pledged Thursday to resume executions — by lethal injection — to get justice for the families of murder victims and they said checks and balances will be in place to prevent the mistakes of the past.

"I believe capital punishment is appropriate for the most heinous of crimes," Gov. Kevin Stitt said at a news conference. "And it is our duty as state officials to obey the laws of the state of Oklahoma by carrying out this somber task."

Executions have been on hold in Oklahoma since 2015 because of drug mix-ups that brought national ridicule to the state. One woman and 46 men are awaiting execution for murder, according to the Oklahoma Corrections Department. Most — 26 — have exhausted their appeals and are eligible to have execution dates set.

The announcement Thursday came as a surprise because officials have been working on a way to carry out the death penalty with nitrogen gas. Officials said two years ago the switch was necessary because of the problems associated with the lethal injection method. The Corrections Department director at the time complained that it was increasingly difficult to even get the necessary drugs.