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
- MARCH 31, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A federal jury has recommended death for Daniel Troya and Ricardo Sanchez Jr.
USA - Florida. A federal jury has recommended death for Daniel Troya and Ricardo Sanchez Jr.
- MARCH 19, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) reintroduced legislation today to abolish the death penalty at the federal level.
USA - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) reintroduced legislation today to abolish the death penalty at the federal level.
- FEBRUARY 10, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - At least eight states have recently introduced legislation to abolish or limit the death penalty.
USA - At least eight states have recently introduced legislation to abolish or limit the death penalty.
- JANUARY 10, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Here's a list of the people The Innocence Project freed from prison in 2008 by using DNA evidence.
USA - Here's a list of the people The Innocence Project freed from prison in 2008 by using DNA evidence.
- JANUARY 1, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Of the 50 states that make up the United States of America, 38 have the death penalty.
Of the 50 states that make up the United States of America, 38 have the death penalty.
- DECEMBER 31, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Number of Police Officers Killed by Gunfire is Lowest in 50 Years
USA - Number of Police Officers Killed by Gunfire is Lowest in 50 Years
- DECEMBER 18, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) has released its 2008 report. Executions and death sentences are down
USA - The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) has released its 2008 report. Executions and death sentences are down
- DECEMBER 10, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
EXECUTIONS AND DEATH SENTENCES IN UNITED STATES DROPPED IN 2008, REPORT FINDS
New death sentences in the United States were at or near a three-decade low this year and the number of people executed will be the lowest since 1994, according to a new report. The nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center reports 37 executions in 2008
- DECEMBER 5, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - After the execution of Joseph M.L. Gardner in South Carolina, there are no more executions scheduled this year in the US
USA - After the execution of Joseph M.L. Gardner in South Carolina, there are no more executions scheduled this year in the US
- DECEMBER 3, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. In Tennessee, Federal Judge Curtis Collier upheld the death sentence for Rejon Taylor
USA - Federal. In Tennessee, Federal Judge Curtis Collier upheld the death sentence for Rejon Taylor
- NOVEMBER 26, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Military. The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas today entered a Stay of Execution in the case of Private Ronald A. Gray.
USA - Military. The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas today entered a Stay of Execution in the case of Private Ronald A. Gray.
- NOVEMBER 25, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Gap Between the Murder Rate of Death Penalty States and Non-Death Penalty States Remains Large
USA - Gap Between the Murder Rate of Death Penalty States and Non-Death Penalty States Remains Large
- NOVEMBER 24, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Military. Marine removed from death row, gets new trial.
USA - Military. Marine removed from death row, gets new trial.
- NOVEMBER 20, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The U.S. military had scheduled its first execution since 1961 for December 10
USA - The U.S. military had scheduled its first execution since 1961 for December 10
- NOVEMBER 12, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Gallup Poll’s latest national survey of American opinion on the death penalty found that support for capital punishment dropped by 5 percentage points from 2007
USA - The Gallup Poll’s latest national survey of American opinion on the death penalty found that support for capital punishment dropped by 5 percentage points from 2007
- OCTOBER 30, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate for president of the United States, joins protest of execution.
USA - Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate for president of the United States, joins protest of execution.
- OCTOBER 20, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Clint Eastwood rallies for the death penalty for child crimes
USA - Clint Eastwood rallies for the death penalty for child crimes
- OCTOBER 6, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected more than 2,000 pending appeals today, including that of Mumia Abu-Jamal
USA - Pennsylvania. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected more than 2,000 pending appeals today, including that of Mumia Abu-Jamal
- OCTOBER 1, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY BAN IN THE RAPE OF A CHILD
A divided Supreme Court refused to reconsider its ruling barring the death penalty for the
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Usa / Canada. For $20, a Toronto artist delivers a taste of death row.
USA - Usa / Canada. For $20, a Toronto artist delivers a taste of death row.
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - After years of professing their parents' innocence, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's sons acknowledge their father was a spy.
USA - After years of professing their parents' innocence, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's sons acknowledge their father was a spy.
- SEPTEMBER 15, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - According to the F.B.I.'s latest crime report released today, murder rate declines in every region except the South, where executions are most prevalent.
USA - According to the F.B.I.'s latest crime report released today, murder rate declines in every region except the South, where executions are most prevalent.
- AUGUST 7, 2008HondurasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Heliberto Chi was executed today in Texas
USA - Heliberto Chi was executed today in Texas
- AUGUST 5, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas executed José E. Medellín
USA - Texas executed José E. Medellín
- JULY 28, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. BUSH OKS DEATH PENALTY FOR EX-SOLDIER
US President George W Bush approved the death penalty for a soldier of Pvt. Ronald A. Gray, convicted by court-martial of two homicides and three rapes at Fort Bragg, N.C. in 1986-87.
- JULY 24, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The time prisoners spend on death row has nearly doubled during the past 2 decades
USA - The time prisoners spend on death row has nearly doubled during the past 2 decades
- JULY 17, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas Turns Aside Pressure on Execution of 5 Mexicans
USA - Texas Turns Aside Pressure on Execution of 5 Mexicans
- JULY 14, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Obama favours execution of bin Laden
USA - Obama favours execution of bin Laden
- JULY 11, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA/MEXICO - The World Court said it will rule next week on a Mexican request that it seek a delay of the imminent U.S. executions of 5 of its citizens
USA/MEXICO - The World Court said it will rule next week on a Mexican request that it seek a delay of the imminent U.S. executions of 5 of its citizens
- JUNE 30, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in a preliminary statement issued after completing an official visit to the US
Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in a preliminary statement issued after completing an official visit to the US