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
- JANUARY 1, 2014United 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
- DECEMBER 19, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Death Penalty Information Center released its annual report on the latest developments in capital punishment
USA - The Death Penalty Information Center released its annual report on the latest developments in capital punishment
- DECEMBER 18, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Executions down 11.6% from last year.
USA - Executions down 11.6% from last year.
- DECEMBER 15, 2013MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Secretary of State John Kerry urges Texas to reconsider death sentence of Edgar Arias Tamayo, a Mexican citizen
USA - Texas. Secretary of State John Kerry urges Texas to reconsider death sentence of Edgar Arias Tamayo, a Mexican citizen
- DECEMBER 11, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - US Congress's Asia and Pacific Subcommittee has also marked up a resolution on organ harvesting in China.
USA - US Congress's Asia and Pacific Subcommittee has also marked up a resolution on organ harvesting in China.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Former US president Jimmy Carter has called for a new nationwide moratorium on the death penalty
USA - Former US president Jimmy Carter has called for a new nationwide moratorium on the death penalty
- OCTOBER 29, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Support for death penalty lowest in four decades in US.
USA - Support for death penalty lowest in four decades in US.
- OCTOBER 29, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Releases Report Including State Murder Rates for 2012
USA - FBI Releases Report Including State Murder Rates for 2012
- OCTOBER 7, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Georgia's unusual burden for proving mental retardation.
USA - Georgia. U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Georgia's unusual burden for proving mental retardation.
- OCTOBER 4, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A new report: a minority of counties (2%) produce most death cases
USA - A new report: a minority of counties (2%) produce most death cases
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 160,000 inmates have life sentences; of those 50,000 are ineligible for parole
USA - 160,000 inmates have life sentences; of those 50,000 are ineligible for parole
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - “Death Row, USA Spring 2013” Now Available. The report is updated until April 1, 2013.
USA - “Death Row, USA Spring 2013” Now Available. The report is updated until April 1, 2013.
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Judge Nicholas Garaufis formally sentenced Ronell Wilson, 31, Black, to death
USA - Judge Nicholas Garaufis formally sentenced Ronell Wilson, 31, Black, to death
- AUGUST 14, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Preliminary Crime Report for 2012
USA - FBI Preliminary Crime Report for 2012
- JULY 25, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ordered a new penalty trial for Gary Lee Sampson
USA - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ordered a new penalty trial for Gary Lee Sampson
- JULY 24, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. A jury sentenced Ronell Wilson, 31, Black, to death for the second time
USA - Federal. A jury sentenced Ronell Wilson, 31, Black, to death for the second time
- JULY 23, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Sodium Thiopental Import Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court.
USA - Sodium Thiopental Import Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court.
- JULY 17, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI review of 27 death penalty cases in which experts may have exaggerated the scientific conclusions
USA - FBI review of 27 death penalty cases in which experts may have exaggerated the scientific conclusions
- JULY 11, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Jimmy Carter: Death Penalty Prompt Abuse of Women.
USA - Jimmy Carter: Death Penalty Prompt Abuse of Women.
- JULY 10, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - As of Mid-Year 2013, Pace of Executions Continues to Decline.
USA - As of Mid-Year 2013, Pace of Executions Continues to Decline.
- JULY 5, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - New ABA Report on Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty
USA - New ABA Report on Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty
- JUNE 5, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Military. Sergeant Robert Bales pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder of 16 Afghan civilians
USA - Military. Sergeant Robert Bales pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder of 16 Afghan civilians
- JUNE 4, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. 3 Somalis face death sentence in US piracy trial
USA - Federal. 3 Somalis face death sentence in US piracy trial
- JUNE 3, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Supreme Court allows police to take DNA from criminal suspects.
USA - Supreme Court allows police to take DNA from criminal suspects.
- JUNE 3, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick imposed 13 death sentences on Kaboni Savage
USA - Federal. U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick imposed 13 death sentences on Kaboni Savage
- MAY 31, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. A jury recommended 13 death sentences against Kaboni Savage
USA - Federal. A jury recommended 13 death sentences against Kaboni Savage
- MAY 28, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. U.S. Supreme Court Expands Opportunities for Federal Review of Ineffective Assistance Claims.
USA - Texas. U.S. Supreme Court Expands Opportunities for Federal Review of Ineffective Assistance Claims.
- MAY 24, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 4 states pass laws hiding names of suppliers of death penalty drugs
USA - 4 states pass laws hiding names of suppliers of death penalty drugs
- MAY 23, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Obama reframes the nation’s counterterrorism strategy
USA - Obama reframes the nation’s counterterrorism strategy
- MAY 1, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Massachussetts. Death penalty favored for Boston Bomber - but not among Blacks.
USA - Massachussetts. Death penalty favored for Boston Bomber - but not among Blacks.