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
- APRIL 2, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Dramatic Decline in Death Sentences
USA - Dramatic Decline in Death Sentences
- MARCH 22, 2013ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Italy. Teva, a top pharmaceutical company moves to stop flow of execution drugs.
USA - Italy. Teva, a top pharmaceutical company moves to stop flow of execution drugs.
- MARCH 22, 2013ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Italy. Italy could hasten Torres' return to U.S., source says.
USA - Italy. Italy could hasten Torres' return to U.S., source says.
- JANUARY 28, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Laws regarding the death penalty were presented in 15 states
USA - Laws regarding the death penalty were presented in 15 states
- JANUARY 16, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 77 people were sentenced to death in 2012, the second lowest number since 1976
USA - 77 people were sentenced to death in 2012, the second lowest number since 1976
- JANUARY 9, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Gallup poll: U.S. Death Penalty Support Stable at 63%
USA - Gallup poll: U.S. Death Penalty Support Stable at 63%
- JANUARY 3, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - DPIC's 2012 Year End Report received extensive media coverage in the U.S. and internationally.
USA - DPIC's 2012 Year End Report received extensive media coverage in the U.S. and internationally.
- JANUARY 1, 2013United 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 28, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The latest edition of Death Row USA showed a decrease of 43 inmates under sentence of death
USA - The latest edition of Death Row USA showed a decrease of 43 inmates under sentence of death
- DECEMBER 18, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The death penalty in 2012: Year End Report. From the Death Penalty Information Center
USA - The death penalty in 2012: Year End Report. From the Death Penalty Information Center
- NOVEMBER 30, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - This year, the United States should not exceed the number of executions of the past few years, and then confirm the positive trend.
USA - This year, the United States should not exceed the number of executions of the past few years, and then confirm the positive trend.
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Drug maker Fresenius Kabi USA said today it won't sell Propofol for use in U.S. executions.
USA - Drug maker Fresenius Kabi USA said today it won't sell Propofol for use in U.S. executions.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Evidence Does Not Support Death Penalty As Deterrent.
USA - Evidence Does Not Support Death Penalty As Deterrent.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTYAMERICAN SAMOA: GOVERNOR MOVES TO REPEAL DEATH PENALTY
American Samoa's governor wants to get rid of the death penalty in the U.S. territory.
- JULY 14, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Military. Lawyers For 9/11 Suspects Want Legal Proceedings Held During Ramadan.
USA - Military. Lawyers For 9/11 Suspects Want Legal Proceedings Held During Ramadan.
- JULY 11, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Great Britain. Vince Cable is prohibiting the export of Propofol used in American prisons
USA - Great Britain. Vince Cable is prohibiting the export of Propofol used in American prisons
- JULY 2, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Results of a study to determine how often modern DNA testing of evidence from older cases confirms the original conviction.
USA - Results of a study to determine how often modern DNA testing of evidence from older cases confirms the original conviction.
- JUNE 25, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - No More Life Without Parole for Juveniles, Supreme Court Rules
USA - No More Life Without Parole for Juveniles, Supreme Court Rules
- JUNE 11, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Supreme Court Turns Down New Guantanamo Appeals
USA - Supreme Court Turns Down New Guantanamo Appeals
- JUNE 6, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Rhode Island. U.S. District Judge William Smith has ordered the U.S. DoJ to indicate whether it will seek the death penalty for Jason Pleau
USA - Rhode Island. U.S. District Judge William Smith has ordered the U.S. DoJ to indicate whether it will seek the death penalty for Jason Pleau
- MAY 29, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 3 % of US Executions Since 1900 Were Botched, Study Finds.
USA - 3 % of US Executions Since 1900 Were Botched, Study Finds.
- MAY 23, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A new book explores whether the families of murder victims obtain closure from an execution
USA - A new book explores whether the families of murder victims obtain closure from an execution
- MAY 21, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A new National Registry of Exonerations – a database of over 2,000 prisoners exonerated since 1989
USA - A new National Registry of Exonerations – a database of over 2,000 prisoners exonerated since 1989
- MAY 21, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 15 states urged the U.S. Justice Department to intervene to help import thiopental
USA - 15 states urged the U.S. Justice Department to intervene to help import thiopental
- MAY 18, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Foreign Nationals: The Importance of Intervention for Citizens of Other Countries Facing U.S. Death Penalty. A new video
USA - Foreign Nationals: The Importance of Intervention for Citizens of Other Countries Facing U.S. Death Penalty. A new video
- MAY 10, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. Judge Mark L. Wolf has vacated the death sentence of Gary Lee Sampson, 52, white.
USA - Federal. Judge Mark L. Wolf has vacated the death sentence of Gary Lee Sampson, 52, white.
- APRIL 25, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Jimmy Carter, Former President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Calls for End to Death Penalty
USA - Jimmy Carter, Former President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Calls for End to Death Penalty
- APRIL 18, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - National Research Council Concludes Deterrence Studies Should Not Influence Death Penalty Policy.
USA - National Research Council Concludes Deterrence Studies Should Not Influence Death Penalty Policy.
- APRIL 11, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Military. Court date set for 5 in 9/11 plot.
USA - Military. Court date set for 5 in 9/11 plot.
- APRIL 4, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pentagon approves 9/11 death penalty tribunal.
USA - Pentagon approves 9/11 death penalty tribunal.