Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

                                               NEWS RELEASE                                                              

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  JANUARY 30, 2002

OHIO’S ELECTRIC CHAIR – CHANGE OF DATE

(Columbus) – Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) Director, Reginald A. Wilkinson announced today that Ohio’s electric chair will be disconnected and removed from the death house at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility on Tuesday, February 26, 2002, a change from February 15^th as previously scheduled.  Electrocution was banned as a form of execution in Ohio on November 21, 2001, after Governor Bob Taft signed amended House Bill 362.

Media will have an opportunity to photograph the chair being disconnected on February 26, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.  If you have not already done so, attendees are being asked to RSVP to this office no later than Friday, February 22, 2002.  All media should report to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility no later than 9:30 a.m. on February 26, 2002.  You must have a picture I.D. and credentials from your media affiliate in order to enter the prison.

If you have any questions please contact the DRC Public Information Office at (614) 752-1150.

Directions to the site (from Columbus):   Take I-71 South to I-270 to S.R. 23 South.  Follow S.R. 23 though Waverly to S.R. 728.  Turn East (left) on S.R. 728.  The institution is on the right side of the road at the top of the hill.