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
- JUNE 25, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. SUPREME COURT REJECTS DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPING CHILDREN
The Supreme Court outlawed executions of people convicted of raping a child. In a 5-4 vote, the court said the Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in such cases violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
- JUNE 13, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. COURT RULING A BLOW TO BUSH, BUT OFFICIAL SAYS TRIALS TO PROCEED
The US Supreme Court ruling that Guantanamo prisoners can challenge their detention
- JUNE 12, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. GUANTANAMO INMATES MAY SEEK RELEASE IN COURT, HIGH COURT SAYS
The US Supreme Court ruled that foreign terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have
- JUNE 9, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The country's murder rate declined 2.7% in 2007.
The country's murder rate declined 2.7% in 2007.
- MAY 28, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
two leading American grassroots organisations have...
two leading American grassroots organisations have come together to raise awareness about the execution of mentally ill defendants.
- MAY 14, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
EU CONDEMNS US RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS
the European Union condemned the resumption of judicial executions in the United
- MAY 13, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The head of the Pentagon's war crimes tribunal approved death penalty charges Tuesday against 5 alleged Sept. 11 conspirators
The head of the Pentagon's war crimes tribunal approved death penalty charges Tuesday against 5 alleged Sept. 11 conspirators
- MAY 10, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT CALLS FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
William Neukom, the President of the American Bar Association, addressed the graduating class
- MARCH 7, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
UN. PANEL CALLS FOR US DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
the United States should impose a death penalty moratorium and stop sentencing
- FEBRUARY 11, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. EXECUTION SOUGHT FOR SIX DETAINEES IN 9/11 ATTACKS
the US military is requesting the death penalty for six terrorist suspects accused
- JANUARY 7, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
in Washington the Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in the Baze v. Rees case.
in Washington the Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in the Baze v. Rees case.
- JANUARY 1, 2008United 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, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
David Baker has written an analysis of how the death penalty in the U.S. has been used...
David Baker has written an analysis of how the death penalty in the U.S. has been used...
- DECEMBER 19, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the Death Penalty Information Center has released its 13th annual Year End Report...
the Death Penalty Information Center has released its 13th annual Year End Report...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the United States voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
the United States voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 17, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the Bureau of Justice Statistics typically releases an annual report entitled...
the Bureau of Justice Statistics typically releases an annual report entitled...
- DECEMBER 5, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. SUPREME COURT STAYS ALABAMA EXECUTION
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the scheduled execution of a convicted murderer in Alabama
- OCTOBER 30, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. LETHAL INJECTIONS MAY STOP UNTIL RULING
the US Supreme Court halted an execution in Mississippi, less than an hour
- OCTOBER 29, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the American Bar Association (ABA) renewed its call for a nationwide...
the American Bar Association (ABA) renewed its call for a nationwide...
- OCTOBER 26, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers...
the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers...
- OCTOBER 10, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments in Medellin v. Texas...
the U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments in Medellin v. Texas...
- OCTOBER 1, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the FBI’s recently released Uniform Crime Reports...
the FBI’s recently released Uniform Crime Reports...
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. SUPREME COURT HALTS EXECUTION OF CONVICTED MURDERER IN TEXAS
The US Supreme Court stepped to halt the execution of a Texas man convicted of killing his parents nine years ago.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON LETHAL INJECTION EXECUTIONS
The US Supreme Court said it would decide whether the commonly used lethal
- JUNE 4, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Supreme Court, in 5-4 vote, restores death sentence in Washington murder case.
Supreme Court, in 5-4 vote, restores death sentence in Washington murder case.
- APRIL 29, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. LETHAL INJECTION, REVEALED
the Boston Globe Newspaper published an editorial in which it
- APRIL 23, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Jerry Miller, a former army cook who spent nearly...
Jerry Miller, a former army cook who spent nearly...
- FEBRUARY 3, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
U.S. EXECUTIONS UNDER RENEWED SCRUTINY
the death penalty is under what may be an unprecedented review in the United States, mostly involving
- JANUARY 4, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA: ‘NEW HOPE FOR THE BARBARITY TO END’ SAYS NEW YORK EX GOVERNOR
“The Italian act is beautiful and noble. It showed courage and was the right thing to do, even if noone else supports it. The request for a UN moratorium on the death penalty gives hope to millions of people around the world who, like me, want the barbari
- JANUARY 1, 2007United 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.