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
- 1,550
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 1,550 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
- 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.
- JANUARY 28, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Laws regarding the death penalty were presented in 15 states
USA - Laws regarding the death penalty were presented in 15 states
JANUARY 28, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: NEW BILLS ON THE DEATH PENALTY
As is known, the U.S. legal system provides a precise scanning of parliamentary work. New
- JANUARY 16, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 77 people were sentenced to death in 2012, the second lowest number since 1976
USA - 77 people were sentenced to death in 2012, the second lowest number since 1976
JANUARY 16, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: 77 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN 2012
The Death Penalty Information Center offers a new resource page on death sentences
- JANUARY 9, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Gallup poll: U.S. Death Penalty Support Stable at 63%
USA - Gallup poll: U.S. Death Penalty Support Stable at 63%
JANUARY 9, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: DEATH PENALTY SUPPORT STABLE AT 63%
Americans' support for the death penalty as punishment for murder has plateaued
- JANUARY 3, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - DPIC's 2012 Year End Report received extensive media coverage in the U.S. and internationally.
USA - DPIC's 2012 Year End Report received extensive media coverage in the U.S. and internationally.
- JANUARY 1, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
- DECEMBER 28, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The latest edition of Death Row USA showed a decrease of 43 inmates under sentence of death
USA - The latest edition of Death Row USA showed a decrease of 43 inmates under sentence of death
- DECEMBER 18, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The death penalty in 2012: Year End Report. From the Death Penalty Information Center
USA - The death penalty in 2012: Year End Report. From the Death Penalty Information Center
- DECEMBER 18, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA: DPIC'S YEAR END REPORT
Just four states carried out more than three-fourths of the executions in the United
- NOVEMBER 30, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - This year, the United States should not exceed the number of executions of the past few years, and then confirm the positive trend.
USA - This year, the United States should not exceed the number of executions of the past few years, and then confirm the positive trend.
NOVEMBER 30, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTYUS: POSITIVE TREND CONFIRMED
This year, the United States should not exceed the number of executions of the past few years, and then confirm the positive trend.
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2012MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Drug maker Fresenius Kabi USA said today it won't sell Propofol for use in U.S. executions.
USA - Drug maker Fresenius Kabi USA said today it won't sell Propofol for use in U.S. executions.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: ANOTHER MANUFACTURER BLOCKS DRUG FOR EXECUTION USE
A manufacturer of the anesthetic blamed for Michael Jackson's death said today
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Evidence Does Not Support Death Penalty As Deterrent.
USA - Evidence Does Not Support Death Penalty As Deterrent.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT DEATH PENALTY AS DETERRENT
In an editorial, the Sacramento Bee of California sharply challenged the theory that