DRAPER — According to Utah’s technical manual for executions, which was obtained through public records request by MuckRock.com, the “execution team” is a five-person squad with a team leader and at least one alternate. All must be certified peace officers who have proved their firearms proficiency by passing an accuracy test under similar conditions as would be present in an actual execution.

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The “execution team leader” is responsible for supplying .30-caliber rifles, live rounds of ammunition, blank rounds of ammunition (the manual elsewhere refers to “wax bullets”), administering practice sessions and providing backup rifles and ammunition.

To test their marksmanship, a target is placed at a minimum of 21 feet and must be the same dimensions as the target that will be placed over the condemned’s heart on the day of the execution. Team members must use the same weapons that have been designated for the execution itself.

“Failure to accurately hit the specified target with one round from each weapon fired shall disqualify the officer,” according to the manual.

Prior to the execution, the team leader loads each rifle with two rounds, taking care that none of the firing squad members can observe which weapon is loaded with blanks.

The warden directs a person to place a target over the condemned inmate’s heart. When that person exits the execution chamber, the warden signals the curtains in the viewing room to be opened.

The inmate is allowed to speak for no more than two minutes. If the inmate swears, he/she forfeits the remainder of the two minutes allotted for last words. The warden places a hood over the inmate’s head and exits the execution chamber.

If no stay or delay in the execution has been ordered, the firing squad is counted down to fire one volley.

A designated execution team member then starts a stopwatch.

If the inmate appears unconscious, the warden may order a physician to check the inmate’s vital signs within three minutes of the shots being fired. The physician is to monitor the vital signs every 60 seconds for a period of 10 minutes.

If the inmate is determined to be alive, the warden shall order the physician to leave the execution chamber and order the firing squad to get ready to fire.

The firing squad will be counted down to fire a second volley. The second volley may be ordered in quicker succession if the inmate appears obviously conscious after the first volley.

Within three minutes of the second volley, the physician is to again enter the execution chamber and monitor the inmate’s vital signs until death can be certified.

Contact reporter Nadia Pflaum at npflaum@standard.net.