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
- 1,047
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 1,047 news items on United States, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- OCTOBER 25, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Gallup Poll: Support for Death Penalty at Lowest Level Since 1972
USA - Gallup Poll: Support for Death Penalty at Lowest Level Since 1972
- OCTOBER 24, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pew: U.S. executions near a 25-year low.
USA - Pew: U.S. executions near a 25-year low.
- OCTOBER 12, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Harvard University: A Handful of Counties Are Keeping the Death Penalty Alive
USA - Harvard University: A Handful of Counties Are Keeping the Death Penalty Alive
- OCTOBER 6, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Obama reducing 102 inmates' sentences.
USA - Obama reducing 102 inmates' sentences.
- OCTOBER 5, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - "Death Row USA Summer 2016" Shows Ongoing Decline in Death Row Populations.
USA - "Death Row USA Summer 2016" Shows Ongoing Decline in Death Row Populations.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Public Support for the Death Penalty Drops Below 50% for First Time in 45 Years.
USA - Public Support for the Death Penalty Drops Below 50% for First Time in 45 Years.
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Here's what Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump think about the death penalty
USA - Here's what Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump think about the death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - As of today, 4 states have gubernatorial moratoriums in place.
USA - As of today, 4 states have gubernatorial moratoriums in place.
- AUGUST 30, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - President Barack Obama today reduced the prison sentences of 111 Americans convicted of drug crimes
USA - President Barack Obama today reduced the prison sentences of 111 Americans convicted of drug crimes
- AUGUST 29, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Documents Show States' Claims of Threats to Execution Drug Suppliers Were Exaggerated
USA - FBI Documents Show States' Claims of Threats to Execution Drug Suppliers Were Exaggerated
- JULY 26, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Sept. 11 prosecutors ask judge to accept 2,976 death certificates as evidence.
USA - Sept. 11 prosecutors ask judge to accept 2,976 death certificates as evidence.
- JULY 19, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ordered a new sentencing hearing for Andrew Paul Witt
USA - The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ordered a new sentencing hearing for Andrew Paul Witt
- JULY 1, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A Mid-Year Review: Halfway Through 2016, Execution Pace Remains at Historic Low.
USA - A Mid-Year Review: Halfway Through 2016, Execution Pace Remains at Historic Low.
- JULY 1, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 14% of Death Row Inmates Are There Because of Just 5 Prosecutors
USA - 14% of Death Row Inmates Are There Because of Just 5 Prosecutors
- JULY 1, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Al-Zawahri, has threatened the United States if the execution of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev goes ahead
USA - Al-Zawahri, has threatened the United States if the execution of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev goes ahead
- JUNE 28, 2016MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - ‘El Chapo’ extradition to US halted by Mexico judge over death penalty fears.
USA - ‘El Chapo’ extradition to US halted by Mexico judge over death penalty fears.
- JUNE 3, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - President Barack Obama issued 42 commutations, adding to 348, a historic total.
USA - President Barack Obama issued 42 commutations, adding to 348, a historic total.
- JUNE 1, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Secret Execution Practices Become Increasingly Questionable
USA - Secret Execution Practices Become Increasingly Questionable
- MAY 24, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Bernie Sanders Opposes Death Penalty For Dylann Roof
USA - Bernie Sanders Opposes Death Penalty For Dylann Roof
- MAY 24, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The U.S. Department of Justice will seek the death penalty against Dylann Roof
USA - The U.S. Department of Justice will seek the death penalty against Dylann Roof
- MAY 13, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pfizer Blocks the Use of Its Drugs in Executions.
USA - Pfizer Blocks the Use of Its Drugs in Executions.
- MAY 10, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Department of Justice will not seek the death penalty against Ahmed Abu Khattala
USA - The Department of Justice will not seek the death penalty against Ahmed Abu Khattala
- APRIL 27, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Thre names of the 49 death sentences of 2015
USA - Thre names of the 49 death sentences of 2015
- APRIL 21, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Oklahoma. Missouri Execution Drug Supplier Being Sold After Committing 1892 Violations of Pharmacy Regulations.
USA - Missouri. Oklahoma. Missouri Execution Drug Supplier Being Sold After Committing 1892 Violations of Pharmacy Regulations.
- APRIL 12, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mylan reprimanded for drug used in at least one Alabama execution.
USA - Mylan reprimanded for drug used in at least one Alabama execution.
- MARCH 15, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled that federal death row inmate Ronell Wilson is ineligible for the death penalty because he has intellectual disability
USA - Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled that federal death row inmate Ronell Wilson is ineligible for the death penalty because he has intellectual disability
- MARCH 13, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ricky Jackson, who spent 39 years in prison, confronts Clinton on death penalty.
USA - Ricky Jackson, who spent 39 years in prison, confronts Clinton on death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Orthodox Jewish Organization Calls for an End to Capital Punishment
USA - Orthodox Jewish Organization Calls for an End to Capital Punishment
- FEBRUARY 15, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Justice Antonin Scalia has died today at age 79.
USA - Justice Antonin Scalia has died today at age 79.
- FEBRUARY 10, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Judge Orders Evidentiary Hearing On Constitutionality of Federal Death Penalty.
USA - Judge Orders Evidentiary Hearing On Constitutionality of Federal Death Penalty.