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
- OCTOBER 12, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES ARE KEEPING THE DEATH PENALTY ALIVE
The death penalty, it seems, is slowly dying. Public support
- 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.
OCTOBER 5, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SUMMER 2016 ‘DEATH ROW USA’ SHOWS ONGOING DECLINE IN DEATH ROW POPULATIONS
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund reports that America's death rows have continued to decline in size, with
- 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, 2016ColoradoDEATH 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
- AUGUST 5, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Judge Fasano resentenced Sedrick Cobb to two life terms without the possibility of release
USA - Connecticut. Judge Fasano resentenced Sedrick Cobb to two life terms without the possibility of release
- 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 26, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SEPT. 11 PROSECUTORS ASK JUDGE TO ACCEPT 2,976 DEATH CERTIFICATES AS EVIDENCE
A war crimes prosecutor on Tuesday asked the judge to put 2,976 death certificates of the people killed on
- 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 19, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: COURT OF APPEALS ORDERS NEW SENTENCING HEARING FOR ANDREW PAUL WITT
The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ordered a new sentencing hearing for Andrew Paul Witt. In the
- JULY 10, 2016CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA - Poll: 58% of Canadians favor the death penalty.
CANADA - Poll: 58% of Canadians favor the death penalty.
- 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
JULY 1, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: 14% OF DEATH ROW INMATES ARE THERE BECAUSE OF JUST 5 PROSECUTORS
Just 5 prosecutors representing less than 0.2% of US counties are responsible for 14% of all people
JULY 1, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYAL-QAEDA WARNS US OF 'GRAVEST CONSEQUENCES' IF DEATH SENTENCE IS CARRIED ON BOSTON MARATHON BOMBER
The leader of Al-Qaeda, Al-Zawahri, has threatened the United States with "grave consequences" if the
- JUNE 28, 2016United StatesDEATH 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 6, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. The U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari in the case of Ronnie Lynn Kirksey.
USA - Alabama. The U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari in the case of Ronnie Lynn Kirksey.
- 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 24, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: BERNIE SANDERS OPPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR DYLANN ROOF
The Justice Department announced on Tuesday it would seek the death penalty in the case of accused
MAY 24, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST DYLANN ROOF
The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that they will seek the death penalty against Dylann Roof,
- MAY 16, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Candace J. Beason sentenced Romaine Martin to death
USA - California. Judge Candace J. Beason sentenced Romaine Martin to death
- 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.