He could eventually move into a medium-security prison, and could be assimilated into the general population if Griffin and prison officials believe the threat from other inmates had passed. Griffin could choose to die by lethal injection or in the gas chamber at Central Prison. Lethal injection is a medical procedure in which an inmate is strapped to a gurney and injected with three different drugs. In the gas chamber, cyanide gas is used. The state currently has almost 200 death-row inmates in various stages of the appeals process.
Cases move slowly and generally take a decade.
North Carolina has executed nine inmates since 1977 when the death penalty was reinstated. The N.C. attorney general could speed up the case, but automatic appeals will still take several years. Griffin could further delay his fate by pursuing other appeals. Unless Griffin waives his appeals, all first-degree murder convictions are automatically appealed. Death sentences are reviewed by the N.C. Supreme Court's seven judges.