United States
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 16
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 47
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The pace of USA executions is on the rise, pushed by...
- News items in the archive
- 1,570
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
United States is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 16 executions in the country, against 47 the year before. The archive holds 1,570 news items on United States, from 1999 to today.
In the United States the death penalty is a matter for the individual states as well as the federal government: some have abolished it, some retain it without applying it, and some carry out executions regularly. The prevailing method is lethal injection, and several states have reintroduced alternative methods.
Its death rows are among the most populated in the world and the wait often lasts decades. The debate concerns the availability of the drugs, wrongful convictions and the conditions of isolation. The archive follows executions, stays, commutations and court decisions, state by state.
Latest news
NOVEMBER 12, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Oklahoma. Richard Glossip pleads guilty to accessory to murder
A high-profile murder case
NOVEMBER 12, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Oklahoma. James Pavatt was executed on November 12
NOVEMBER 12, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. John Allen Rubio, 46, Hispanic, was executed on November 12
NOVEMBER 10, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Death Penalty Support Drops al 49%
For the fist time after 60 years
NOVEMBER 10, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine is considering commuting some death sentences
NOVEMBER 7, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Guantamo. A Look Inside Jury Selection in U.S.S. Cole Bombing Case
NOVEMBER 5, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Indiana. Jeffrey Weisheit was executed on November 5
NOVEMBER 5, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Alabama. Michael Taylor was executed by lethal injection on November 5
NOVEMBER 5, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Jesse Guardado was executed by lethal injection on November 5
NOVEMBER 5, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - California. Gov. Gavin Newsom to commute all death sentences
- NOVEMBER 5, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Governor Newsom’s Open Letter
NOVEMBER 5, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Tennessee. The new Governor and Christa Pike
Marsha Blackburn is strongly in favor of the death penalty
NOVEMBER 4, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Death row Pastor Jeff Hood urges Gina Hinojosa to halt Executions
The new Democratic Governor
NOVEMBER 2, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Tennessee. Christa Pike Releases Statement on Effects of Failed Execution
Her Lawyers Seek Agreement on Solitary Confinement
- NOVEMBER 2, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Jury Selection Begins in 1st Death-Penalty Case at Guantánamo Bay
Against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the 'Cole' case
OCTOBER 31, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Tennessee. Dr. Mark Fowler, who oversaw Christa Pike’s botched execution, says she still deserves to die
Fowler compares himself to Jesus
OCTOBER 26, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Alabama. Judge sentences Brian Martin to death
OCTOBER 26, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Jury sentences Rogelio Martinez, 21, Hispanic, to death
OCTOBER 26, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Judge sentences Jermaine Williams to death
OCTOBER 26, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Arkansas. Death row inmate Eric Reid to serve life in prison
OCTOBER 22, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Death Penalty Debate Highlights Divisions Among Christians
- OCTOBER 22, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Tennessee. Christa Pike now walks and speaks in ‘full sentences’
OCTOBER 22, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Jury sentences Jamaurea Jermaine Britton to death
OCTOBER 20, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. William Reaves, 77, Black, was executed on October 20
- OCTOBER 20, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 33% of Americans back second execution for Christa Pike
- OCTOBER 20, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Military. Confession from Alleged 9/11 Conspirators Ruled Inadmissible
OCTOBER 20, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Alabama. Governor Kay Ivey Grants Clemency to Toforest Johnson
OCTOBER 20, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Alberto Sierra, 42, Hispanic, sentenced to death
- OCTOBER 19, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Supreme Court Upholds Withdrawal of Plea Deal at Guantanamo
OCTOBER 19, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Italy will not extradite Lee Gilley to Texas
Unless charged with non-capital murder