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
- 1,537
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 1,537 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
- FEBRUARY 5, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - American Bar Association Resolution: Ban Death Penalty for Offenders Age 21
USA - American Bar Association Resolution: Ban Death Penalty for Offenders Age 21
FEBRUARY 5, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTYABA RESOLUTION: BAN DEATH PENALTY FOR OFFENDERS AGE 21 OR YOUNGER
The American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution (Resolution 111) calling for an end to the death penalty for offenders who were 21 or younger at the time of the crime.
- JANUARY 29, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - There are 53,290 people serving LWOP sentences as of 2016.
USA - There are 53,290 people serving LWOP sentences as of 2016.
JANUARY 29, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: 53,290 PEOPLE SERVING LWOP SENTENCES
According to a study by the Sentencing Project (Still Life: America’s Increasing Use of Life and Long-Term Sentences, May 03, 2017), there are 53,290 people serving LWOP sentences as of 2016.
- JANUARY 9, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Murder Victims’ Family Members Speak of Moving Forward Without the Death Penalty
USA - Murder Victims’ Family Members Speak of Moving Forward Without the Death Penalty Murder Victims’ Family Members Speak of Moving Forward Without the Death Penalty
JANUARY 9, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: MURDER VICTIMS’ FAMILY MEMBERS SPEAK OF MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT THE DEATH PENALTY
Two recent publications illustrate that a growing number of family members of murder victims are now advocating against capital punishment.
- JANUARY 1, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
- JANUARY 1, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pfizer Blocks the Use of Its Drugs in Executions.
USA - Pfizer Blocks the Use of Its Drugs in Executions.
- DECEMBER 20, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 39 (or maybe 43) new death sentences in 2017
USA - 39 (or maybe 43) new death sentences in 2017
- DECEMBER 14, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - DPIC 2017 Year End Report: Death Sentences, Executions At Near-Historic Lows.
USA - DPIC 2017 Year End Report: Death Sentences, Executions At Near-Historic Lows.
DECEMBER 14, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTYDPIC 2017 YEAR END REPORT: DEATH SENTENCES, EXECUTIONS AT NEAR-HISTORIC LOWS
Executions and new death sentences remained near historic lows in 2017, and public support for the death penalty polled at its lowest level in 45 years, according to DPIC's annual report, “The Death Penalty in 2017: Year End Report,” released December 14.
- DECEMBER 13, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Report: Deterrence is Based on Certainty of Apprehension, Not Severity of Punishment.
USA - Report: Deterrence is Based on Certainty of Apprehension, Not Severity of Punishment.
DECEMBER 13, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: REPORT, DETERRENCE IS BASED ON CERTAINTY OF APPREHENSION, NOT SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT
The certainty of apprehension, not the severity of punishment, is more effective as a deterrent.
- DECEMBER 12, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Trump: Terrorism offenders deserve death penalty.
USA - Trump: Terrorism offenders deserve death penalty.
- DECEMBER 3, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - US executions reached 23 in 2017.
USA - US executions reached 23 in 2017.
DECEMBER 3, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTYUS EXECUTIONS INCREASE SLIGHTLY IN 2017
A court reprieve that halted the scheduled December lethal injection of a Texas prisoner means 2017 will end with 23 inmates executed in the U.S., a figure that although up slightly from the previous year is 1/2 of what it was a decade ago.
- NOVEMBER 28, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ahmed Abu Khattala, Benghazi 'on scene commander', found guilty on terrorism charges.
USA - Ahmed Abu Khattala, Benghazi 'on scene commander', found guilty on terrorism charges.
- OCTOBER 26, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Gallup Poll: Support for Death Penalty in U.S. Falls to a 45-Year Low.
USA - Gallup Poll: Support for Death Penalty in U.S. Falls to a 45-Year Low.
- OCTOBER 26, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Report Documents “Dramatic Rise” in Republican Support for Death-Penalty Repeal.
USA - New Report Documents “Dramatic Rise” in Republican Support for Death-Penalty Repeal.
- OCTOBER 26, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: NEW REPORT DOCUMENTS ‘DRAMATIC RISE’ IN REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR DEATH-PENALTY REPEAL
"The death penalty is dying in the United States, and Republicans are contributing to its demise," concludes a new report, The Right Way, released on October 25 by the advocacy group Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty.
OCTOBER 26, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SUPPORT FOR DEATH PENALTY IN U.S. FALLS TO A 45-YEAR LOW
“Americans' support for the death penalty has dipped to a level not seen in 45 years,” according to the results of the 2017 Gallup poll released on October 26.
- OCTOBER 11, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - In Guantanamo, in the case of al Nashiri, the entire civilian legal team has quit the case over a secret ethical conflict.
USA - In Guantanamo, in the case of al Nashiri, the entire civilian legal team has quit the case over a secret ethical conflict.
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Study: Worst Crimes Carry Highest Risk of Bad Evidence, Wrongful Convictions.
USA - Study: Worst Crimes Carry Highest Risk of Bad Evidence, Wrongful Convictions.
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: WORST CRIMES CARRY HIGHEST RISK OF BAD EVIDENCE, WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS
Two professors of sociology and criminology who reviewed more than 1500 cases in which convicted prisoners were later exonerated have found a direct relationship between the seriousness of the crime and miscarriages of justice: "the 'worst of the worst cr
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - DPIC Study Finds No Evidence that Death Penalty Deters Murder or Protects Police
USA - DPIC Study Finds No Evidence that Death Penalty Deters Murder or Protects Police
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: DPIC STUDY FINDS NO EVIDENCE THAT DEATH PENALTY DETERS MURDER OR PROTECTS POLICE
A Death Penalty Information Center analysis of U.S. murder data from 1987 through 2015 has found no evidence that the death penalty deters murder or protects police.
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Sixteen Years Later, No Date in Sight for Death-Penalty Trial of Alleged 9/11 Conspirators.
USA - Sixteen Years Later, No Date in Sight for Death-Penalty Trial of Alleged 9/11 Conspirators.
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - "Death Row USA Spring 2017" as of April 1, 2017.
USA - "Death Row USA Spring 2017" as of April 1, 2017.
- AUGUST 23, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Massachusetts. Ninety years ago Italian immigrants and avowed anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti were executed
USA - Massachusetts. Ninety years ago Italian immigrants and avowed anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti were executed
- AUGUST 21, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Johnson & Johnson speaks out against the planned use of Etomidate for the upcoming execution of Asay.
USA - Florida. Johnson & Johnson speaks out against the planned use of Etomidate for the upcoming execution of Asay.