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
- 1,549
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 1,549 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
- 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 PENALTYUSA. 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
- 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.