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
FEBRUARY 7, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Sept. 11 Plea Deal Includes Gag Order on C.I.A. Torture Secrets
FEBRUARY 3, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - List of the 26 death sentences of 2024
FEBRUARY 1, 2025United StatesDEATH BY PUNISHMENTUSA - 194.000 persons serving life sentences
A study by The Sentencing Project
JANUARY 29, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - The Death Penalty in 2024
New Monthly Podcast from the DPIC
- JANUARY 22, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Trump suggests state death penalty for those commuted by Biden. Is that possible?
"Highly unlikely", legal experts say
- JANUARY 21, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Supreme Court Makes Historic Decision
Rules in Favor of Woman on Death Row, Confirming Admission of Prejudicial, Gendered Evidence Can Violate Due Process Rights
JANUARY 20, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Khalid Shaikh Mohammed Agrees to Use of Disputed Confession for Life Sentence
Accused 9/11 Mastermind
- JANUARY 20, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Among First-Day Executive Orders, Trump Issues Order on the Death Penalty
- JANUARY 18, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A third man, Iouri Mikhel, rejects Biden's pardon
JANUARY 17, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Biden grants clemency to 2490 convicted of non-violent drug offences
- JANUARY 16, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Department of Justice Withdraws Federal Execution Protocol
And Keeps Moratorium on Executions in Place
JANUARY 14, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Agofsky and Davis can't legally object to Biden's death row commutations
DOJ argues
- DECEMBER 23, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: Biden commutes 37 of 40 federal death sentences
President Joe Biden announced on December 23 that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment.
DECEMBER 23, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - List of 37 commuted by Biden
DECEMBER 19, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - “The Death Penalty in 2024: Year End Report”
25 executions, 26 new death sentences
DECEMBER 13, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people
For non-violent crimes
- DECEMBER 9, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pope Francis and many others urge Biden to commute all federal death sentences
- NOVEMBER 27, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Biden Contemplates Federal Commutation Requests
Clemency to the 40 men currently on federal death row
NOVEMBER 26, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - 9/11 Victim’s Daughter Writes Why She Supports Plea Deals for Perpetrators
Chanel Shum was starting preschool when her father was killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks
NOVEMBER 18, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Gallup poll: 53% of Americans in favor of the death penalty
The number masks considerable differences between older and younger Americans
- NOVEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Guantanamo. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin appeals plea
For the September 11 defendants
NOVEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Trump wants to expand death penalty
For child rapists, immigrants who kill U.S. citizens, human traffickers and drug dealers
- NOVEMBER 10, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Guantanamo. Military Judge Postpones Guilty Plea Proceedings in Sept. 11 Case
- NOVEMBER 7, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Plea deals revived for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 2 co-defendants
No death penalty for Sept. 11 attacks
NOVEMBER 7, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Biden Urged To Prevent Death Row Execution Spree Under Trump
- OCTOBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Trump insists on the death penalty for drug dealers
As suggested to him by Chinese leader Xi Jinping
OCTOBER 10, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - A new documentary, “Rebel Nun,” tells the story of Sister Helen Prejan
40 years against the death penalty
- OCTOBER 1, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Last Week America Carried Out Its 1,600th Execution Since 1976.
When Will the Madness Stop?
SEPTEMBER 30, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Rulings for 2 Death-Sentenced Prisoners Recognize Devastating Harm Caused by Solitary Confinement
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Richard Branson and 350 business leaders renew call to end death penalty