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
- APRIL 29, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The US Department of Justice confirmed that federal executions have been halted
USA - The US Department of Justice confirmed that federal executions have been halted
APRIL 29, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: CREATOR OF LETHAL INJECTION PROTOCOL CALLS DEATH PENALTY ‘PROBLEMATIC’
Dr. Jay Chapman, the Oklahoma medical examiner who created the three-drug lethal injection protocol that
- APRIL 23, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - On this day in 1969 Sirhan Sirhan was sentenced to die in the gas chamber after being convicted of killing Sen. Robert F. Kennedy
USA - On this day in 1969 Sirhan Sirhan was sentenced to die in the gas chamber after being convicted of killing Sen. Robert F. Kennedy
- APRIL 22, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Akorn asked also Arizona and Kentucky to return supply of Midazolam.
USA - Akorn asked also Arizona and Kentucky to return supply of Midazolam.
- APRIL 21, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Massachusetts. Victims in Boston Marathon Bombings Are Split on Death Penalty.
USA - Massachusetts. Victims in Boston Marathon Bombings Are Split on Death Penalty.
- APRIL 18, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Acknowledges Flawed Forensic Testimony Affected At Least 32 Death Penalty Cases
USA - FBI Acknowledges Flawed Forensic Testimony Affected At Least 32 Death Penalty Cases
- APRIL 16, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Death Penalty Poll 2015: Support At Record Low
USA - Death Penalty Poll 2015: Support At Record Low
- APRIL 15, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 13 states today filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the three-drug combination being used by Oklahoma
USA - 13 states today filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the three-drug combination being used by Oklahoma
- APRIL 13, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The New York Times described the death penalty as "cruel, immoral, and ineffective at reducing crime"
USA - The New York Times described the death penalty as "cruel, immoral, and ineffective at reducing crime"
- APRIL 13, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - "Death Row USA, Winter 2015" Shows More Than 12% Drop in U.S. Death Row in Last Decade.
USA - "Death Row USA, Winter 2015" Shows More Than 12% Drop in U.S. Death Row in Last Decade.
- APRIL 13, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Massachusetts. Family members of two Massachusetts murder victims have spoken out against death penalty
USA - Massachusetts. Family members of two Massachusetts murder victims have spoken out against death penalty
- APRIL 13, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Effects of the Death Penalty on Those Who Carry It Out.
USA - Effects of the Death Penalty on Those Who Carry It Out.
- APRIL 11, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Among the thousands of fatal shootings at the hands of police since 2005, only 54 officers have been charged
USA - Among the thousands of fatal shootings at the hands of police since 2005, only 54 officers have been charged
- APRIL 10, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 47% of Americans prefer the death penalty for the Boston marathon bomber Dzohkhar Tsarnaev,
USA - 47% of Americans prefer the death penalty for the Boston marathon bomber Dzohkhar Tsarnaev,
- APRIL 8, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Massachusetts. A federal jury in Boston found Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty in the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon.
USA - Massachusetts. A federal jury in Boston found Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty in the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon.
- MARCH 30, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) adopted a resolution discouraging pharmacist participation in executions.
USA - The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) adopted a resolution discouraging pharmacist participation in executions.
- MARCH 30, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: ASSISTING EXECUTIONS ‘FUNDAMENTALLY CONTRARY TO THE ROLE OF PHARMACISTS’
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) adopted a resolution discouraging pharmacist participation in executions.
- MARCH 24, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) is urging its members to stop working with lethal drugs
USA - The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) is urging its members to stop working with lethal drugs
MARCH 24, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: PHARMACISTS ARE GETTING CLOSER TO CUTTING OFF ACCESS TO DEATH PENALTY DRUGS
The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP), the leading trade group for compound
- MARCH 17, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Most death penalty sentences are overturned.
USA - Most death penalty sentences are overturned.
- MARCH 17, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: MOST DEATH PENALTY SENTENCES ARE OVERTURNED
“If a person is given a death sentence, what is his or her chance of actually being executed? Based on a
- MARCH 6, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Akorn Pharmaceuticals objects to use of its midazolam and pentobarbital in executions.
USA - Akorn Pharmaceuticals objects to use of its midazolam and pentobarbital in executions.
MARCH 6, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: AKORN PHARMACEUTICALS OBJECTS TO USE OF DRUGS IN EXECUTIONS
Akorn Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of two drugs (midazolam and pentobarbital) that have been used in
- MARCH 2, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A new study says death penalty has no effect on crime
USA - A new study says death penalty has no effect on crime
- FEBRUARY 17, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Attorney General Eric Holder called today for a moratorium on the death penalty
USA - Attorney General Eric Holder called today for a moratorium on the death penalty
FEBRUARY 17, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: HOLDER FAVORS MORATORIUM ON LETHAL INJECTION
Attorney General Eric Holder said that a national moratorium on lethal injection "would be appropriate'' until the Supreme Court completes its latest review of the execution process as part of a case initially brought by Oklahoma death row inmates.
FEBRUARY 13, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: HANDS OFF CAIN WELCOMES THE MORATORIUM IN PENNSYLVANIA
the newly elected Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced today that he has suspended the death
- FEBRUARY 9, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A new Rasmussen poll found that 57% of American adults support the death penalty
USA - A new Rasmussen poll found that 57% of American adults support the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 4, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Conservative Leaders Seek Reprieve for Severely Mentally Ill Inmate Scott Panetti
USA - Texas. Conservative Leaders Seek Reprieve for Severely Mentally Ill Inmate Scott Panetti
- JANUARY 29, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Death Penalty Less Likely When Murder Victim is a Black Male.
USA - Death Penalty Less Likely When Murder Victim is a Black Male.