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 7, 2008HondurasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Honduras' government protested Thursday's execution in Texas of Heliberto Chi.
USA - Honduras' government protested Thursday's execution in Texas of Heliberto Chi.
- AUGUST 6, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said it sent a note of protest to the U.S. State Department about the Medellìn case.
USA - Texas. Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said it sent a note of protest to the U.S. State Department about the Medellìn case.
- AUGUST 5, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas executed José E. Medellín
USA - Texas executed José E. Medellín
JULY 28, 2008United States Armed ForcesDEATH PENALTYUSA. BUSH OKS DEATH PENALTY FOR EX-SOLDIER
US President George W Bush approved the death penalty for a soldier of Pvt. Ronald A. Gray, convicted by court-martial of two homicides and three rapes at Fort Bragg, N.C. in 1986-87.
- JULY 24, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The time prisoners spend on death row has nearly doubled during the past 2 decades
USA - The time prisoners spend on death row has nearly doubled during the past 2 decades
- JULY 17, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas Turns Aside Pressure on Execution of 5 Mexicans
USA - Texas Turns Aside Pressure on Execution of 5 Mexicans
JULY 16, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTYICJ RULES AGAINST IMMINENT EXECUTION OF MEXICANS IN US
the International Court of Justice ordered the United States to do all it can to
- JULY 14, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Obama favours execution of bin Laden
USA - Obama favours execution of bin Laden
- JULY 11, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA/MEXICO - The World Court said it will rule next week on a Mexican request that it seek a delay of the imminent U.S. executions of 5 of its citizens
USA/MEXICO - The World Court said it will rule next week on a Mexican request that it seek a delay of the imminent U.S. executions of 5 of its citizens
- JUNE 30, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in a preliminary statement issued after completing an official visit to the US
Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in a preliminary statement issued after completing an official visit to the US
- JUNE 28, 2008GermanyDEATH PENALTY
German politicians across the political spectrum responded...
German politicians across the political spectrum responded...
- JUNE 25, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the Louisiana statute that allowed the death penalty for the rape of a child where the victim did not die
USA - Louisiana. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the Louisiana statute that allowed the death penalty for the rape of a child where the victim did not die
JUNE 25, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA. 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 19, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
MEXICO ASKS WORLD COURT TO HALT U.S. EXECUTIONS
Mexico asked the World Court to take urgent steps to stop imminent U.S. executions
- 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
the number of people under supervision in the nation's criminal justice system rose to 7.2 million in 2006, the highest ever.
the number of people under supervision in the nation's criminal justice system rose to 7.2 million in 2006, the highest ever.
JUNE 12, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA. 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.
JUNE 6, 2008SyriaDEATH PENALTYSPAIN TO EXTRADITE SUSPECTED ARMS DEALER TO US
The Spanish government authorised the extradition to the United States of a suspected Syrian
- JUNE 5, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
Mexico has returned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in seeking a stay of execution for Mexican-born inmates in the U.S.
Mexico has returned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in seeking a stay of execution for Mexican-born inmates in the U.S.
- 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 19, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
Mexican-born Ramiro Rubi Ibarra lost an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court
Mexican-born Ramiro Rubi Ibarra lost an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court
MAY 14, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTYEU 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 PENALTYUSA. AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT CALLS FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
William Neukom, the President of the American Bar Association, addressed the graduating class
- MAY 5, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
Jose Medellin received an execution date
Jose Medellin received an execution date
- MAY 3, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) announced plans last week to visit 55 of its citizens sitting on death row in the United States
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) announced plans last week to visit 55 of its citizens sitting on death row in the United States
- APRIL 16, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
The Supreme Court upheld Kentucky's use of lethal injection executions today.
The Supreme Court upheld Kentucky's use of lethal injection executions today.
- MARCH 31, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
7 MEXICAN-BORN TEXAS DEATH ROW INMATES LOSE APPEALS
the US Supreme Court declined to hear the appeals of seven Mexican-born prisoners condemned to die in Texas, including two who had committed murders in Houston in the 1990s.
- MARCH 25, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Medellin v. Texas case, ruled in a 6-3 decision that the President does not have the authority to order states to follow decisions of the International Court of Justice
The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Medellin v. Texas case, ruled in a 6-3 decision that the President does not have the authority to order states to follow decisions of the International Court of Justice