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Execution witnesses in Virginia now will see less of the proceedings, no longer viewing inmates as they are led into the execution chamber and strapped onto the gurney or into the electric chair.

Recent changes in the Virginia Department of Corrections execution manual alter decades-old practices and appear, in part, to have been made in response to issues that arose during the Jan. 18 injection execution of Ricky Javon Gray, which drew more attention than usual because of a new chemical cocktail.

The new protocol calls for a curtain in the execution chamber to be drawn prior to the inmate being escorted inside by the execution team, blocking the view from an enclosed citizen and media witnesses area.

Executions are carried out in “L-Building” at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt. Inmates have a choice between execution by injection or electrocution, with injection the default means if they refuse to choose.

In prior executions, the curtain was open as the inmate entered and was secured to the chair or gurney, allowing a clear view of what was happening and the inmate’s demeanor. The curtain was closed only while intravenous lines and the electrodes for the cardiac monitor were placed.