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
- APRIL 3, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Green National Committee is voting on a resolution opposing the death penalty
USA - The Green National Committee is voting on a resolution opposing the death penalty
- 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.
- MARCH 4, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada/Usa. Canadian Justice Robert Barnes ordered the Canadian government to seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, on death row in Montana
Canada/Usa. Canadian Justice Robert Barnes ordered the Canadian government to seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, on death row in Montana
FEBRUARY 25, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS COULD PUT AN END TO DEATH PENALTY
A clutch of American states are considering whether to abolish capital punishment because of the
- 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 15, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY1ST US EXECUTION OF 09 IN TEXAS
A man convicted of murdering three people during a night of robberies more than 13 years ago in Fort Worth was put to death in Texas in the nation's first execution of the year. Curtis Moore, 40, was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m., eight minutes after the
- 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 PENALTYEXECUTIONS 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 14, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: SUPREME COURT ALLOWS DAVIS EXECUTION IN GEORGIA. OHIO EXECUTES RICHARD COOEY
the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Troy Davis to be put to death for killing a police officer, despite calls from his supporters to reconsider the case.
- 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 - Louisiana. The U.S. Supreme Court won't revisit child rape execution case
USA - Louisiana. The U.S. Supreme Court won't revisit child rape execution case
- OCTOBER 1, 2008LouisianaDEATH 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, 2008United StatesDEATH 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 8, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA / WORLD - The U.N. human rights office voiced concern today for the fate of 50 Mexican nationals on death row in the United States
USA / WORLD - The U.N. human rights office voiced concern today for the fate of 50 Mexican nationals on death row in the United States
- AUGUST 7, 2008HondurasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Heliberto Chi was executed today in Texas
USA - Heliberto Chi was executed today in Texas