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
- 1,550
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 1,550 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
- 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.
- MAY 13, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: PFIZER BLOCKS THE USE OF ITS DRUGS IN EXECUTIONS
The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced today that it has imposed sweeping controls on the distribution of its products to ensure that none are used in lethal injections, a step that closes off the last remaining open-market source of drugs used in exec
- 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
MAY 10, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL NOT SEEK DEATH PENALTY AGAINST AHMED ABU KHATTALA
The United States Department of Justice has announced that it will not seek the death penalty against
- 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 15, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: FDA BLOCKS TEXAS IMPORT OF EXECUTION DRUG
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has told the Texas Department of Criminal Justice it is tentatively
- 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 15, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: RONELL WILSON'S DEATH SENTENCE VACATED DUE TO 'INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY'
United States District Court 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 13, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA DIES AT 79
Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1986 by President
- 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.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Hillary Clinton is partially against death penalty.
USA - Hillary Clinton is partially against death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Bernie Sanders is against the death penalty.
USA - Bernie Sanders is against the death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: BERNIE SANDERS IS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
After Hillary Clinton said during the MSNBC Democratic debate that she reluctantly supports capital punishment, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) drew a contrast. "I just don't want to see government be part of killing, that's all," he said.