660. Persons authorized to be present at execution. 1. The commissioner, any persons designated by the commissioner to act as execution technicians or otherwise to assist in the execution, including correction officers, and a licensed physician or physicians may be present at the execution. The commissioner shall also select and invite the presence, by at least three days' prior notice, of a justice of the supreme court, the counsel for the convicted person, the district attorney and the sheriff of the county where the conviction was had, together with six adult citizens. The names of the execution technician or technicians shall never be disclosed, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, including article six of the public officers law. The names of the six adult citizens who witnessed the execution shall not be disclosed until after the execution.
2. The commissioner shall, at the request of the person sentenced to death, authorize and permit two clergymen to be present at the execution.
3. The inmate sentenced to death may name four relatives or bona fide friends to witness the execution, and the commissioner shall authorize said named relatives or friends of the inmate to witness the execution unless the commissioner determines that the presence of any named relative or friend at the execution would pose a threat to the safety or security of the designated correctional institution. No person under eighteen years of age shall be permitted to witness any execution.
Last modified: February 3, 2019