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
- AUGUST 14, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Preliminary Crime Report for 2012
USA - FBI Preliminary Crime Report for 2012
- JULY 25, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ordered a new penalty trial for Gary Lee Sampson
USA - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ordered a new penalty trial for Gary Lee Sampson
- JULY 24, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. A jury sentenced Ronell Wilson, 31, Black, to death for the second time
USA - Federal. A jury sentenced Ronell Wilson, 31, Black, to death for the second time
- JULY 23, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Sodium Thiopental Import Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court.
USA - Sodium Thiopental Import Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court.
JULY 23, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SODIUM THIOPENTAL IMPORT RULED ILLEGAL BY APPEALS COURT
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously affirmed
- JULY 17, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI review of 27 death penalty cases in which experts may have exaggerated the scientific conclusions
USA - FBI review of 27 death penalty cases in which experts may have exaggerated the scientific conclusions
JULY 17, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: FBI COULD BE AT FAULT IN 27 DEATH ROW CASES
A Federal Bureau of Investigation review of more than 21,000 cases has revealed 27 death
- JULY 11, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Jimmy Carter: Death Penalty Prompt Abuse of Women.
USA - Jimmy Carter: Death Penalty Prompt Abuse of Women.
- JULY 10, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - As of Mid-Year 2013, Pace of Executions Continues to Decline.
USA - As of Mid-Year 2013, Pace of Executions Continues to Decline.
- JULY 10, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: AS OF MID-YEAR 2013, PACE OF EXECUTIONS CONTINUES TO DECLINE
In the first half of 2013, six states carried out 18 executions. In the same period last year, there
- JULY 5, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - New ABA Report on Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty
USA - New ABA Report on Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty
JUNE 27, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: BOSTON BOMBING SUSPECT INDICTED ON 30 COUNTS
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, has been indicted on 30 counts
JUNE 12, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: FLORIDA, TEXAS EXECUTE CONVICTED KILLERS
Texas and Florida each executed a killer by injection. They were the 14th and 15th inmates executed in the United States this year.
- JUNE 5, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Military. Sergeant Robert Bales pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder of 16 Afghan civilians
USA - Military. Sergeant Robert Bales pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder of 16 Afghan civilians
JUNE 5, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SGT. ROBERT BALES ADMITS TO AFGHAN MASSACRE
Staff Sergeant Robert Bales pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder of 16 Afghan civilians
- JUNE 4, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. 3 Somalis face death sentence in US piracy trial
USA - Federal. 3 Somalis face death sentence in US piracy trial
JUNE 4, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SOMALIS FACE DEATH SENTENCE IN PIRACY TRIAL
3 Somalis go on trial today for the high-seas murder of 4 American citizens whose yacht
- JUNE 3, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Supreme Court allows police to take DNA from criminal suspects.
USA - Supreme Court allows police to take DNA from criminal suspects.
- JUNE 3, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick imposed 13 death sentences on Kaboni Savage
USA - Federal. U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick imposed 13 death sentences on Kaboni Savage
JUNE 3, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SUPREME COURT ALLOWS POLICE TO TAKE DNA FROM CRIMINAL SUSPECTS
The police may take a DNA sample from people arrested for serious crimes, the Supreme Court ruled today.
- MAY 31, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Federal. A jury recommended 13 death sentences against Kaboni Savage
USA - Federal. A jury recommended 13 death sentences against Kaboni Savage
- MAY 28, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. U.S. Supreme Court Expands Opportunities for Federal Review of Ineffective Assistance Claims.
USA - Texas. U.S. Supreme Court Expands Opportunities for Federal Review of Ineffective Assistance Claims.
- MAY 28, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The U.S. Supreme Court opens to evidence submitted well after the original trial
USA - The U.S. Supreme Court opens to evidence submitted well after the original trial
- MAY 24, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 4 states pass laws hiding names of suppliers of death penalty drugs
USA - 4 states pass laws hiding names of suppliers of death penalty drugs
- MAY 23, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Obama reframes the nation’s counterterrorism strategy
USA - Obama reframes the nation’s counterterrorism strategy
- MAY 1, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Massachussetts. Death penalty favored for Boston Bomber - but not among Blacks.
USA - Massachussetts. Death penalty favored for Boston Bomber - but not among Blacks.
- APRIL 2, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Dramatic Decline in Death Sentences
USA - Dramatic Decline in Death Sentences
- MARCH 22, 2013United StatesDEATH 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, 2013United StatesDEATH 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.
MARCH 22, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: ITALY MAY EXTRADITE MIGUEL TORRES
Italy could hasten Miguel Torres' return to U.S. to face trial, source says.