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
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
MARCH 7, 2008United NationsDEATH PENALTYUN. PANEL CALLS FOR US DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
the United States should impose a death penalty moratorium and stop sentencing
FEBRUARY 29, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ APPEALS COURT OVERTURNS US CITIZEN'S DEATH SENTENCE
an Iraqi appeals court overturned the conviction and death sentence
FEBRUARY 11, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA. EXECUTION SOUGHT FOR SIX DETAINEES IN 9/11 ATTACKS
the US military is requesting the death penalty for six terrorist suspects accused
- JANUARY 7, 2008KentuckyDEATH PENALTY
in Washington the Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in the Baze v. Rees case.
in Washington the Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in the Baze v. Rees case.
- JANUARY 1, 2008United 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, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
David Baker has written an analysis of how the death penalty in the U.S. has been used...
David Baker has written an analysis of how the death penalty in the U.S. has been used...
- DECEMBER 19, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the Death Penalty Information Center has released its 13th annual Year End Report...
the Death Penalty Information Center has released its 13th annual Year End Report...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the United States voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
the United States voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 17, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the Bureau of Justice Statistics typically releases an annual report entitled...
the Bureau of Justice Statistics typically releases an annual report entitled...
DECEMBER 11, 2007FinlandDEATH PENALTYFINLAND SIGNS NEW EXTRADITION AGREEMENT WITH US
Finland has signed a new extradition agreement with the
- DECEMBER 9, 2007United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
the Appeal Court in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, upheld the death sentence against an American who murdered a German engineer last year, a legal source told Gulf News.
DECEMBER 5, 2007AlabamaDEATH PENALTYUSA. SUPREME COURT STAYS ALABAMA EXECUTION
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the scheduled execution of a convicted murderer in Alabama
DECEMBER 4, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ. AL-MALIKI WANTS 'CHEMICAL ALI,' OTHERS EXECUTED
Iraq's prime minister wants the American military to hand over "Chemical Ali" and two other convicted
- NOVEMBER 13, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: US FORCES WILL NOT ALLOW IRAQ EXECUTIONS AMID CONTROVERSY: OFFICIAL
the United States will refuse to hand over to Iraqi authorities for execution three former top officials from the Saddam Hussein regime as long as the "legal controversy" over their sentencing remains, reports said.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
a new poll indicates respondents oppose...
a new poll indicates respondents oppose...
- NOVEMBER 6, 2007United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE. AMERICAN’S DEATH PENALTY UNDER REVIEW
the Appeal Court in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, is reviewing the death sentence against an American for killing a German businessman and dumping his body in the desert.
OCTOBER 30, 2007MississippiDEATH PENALTYUSA. LETHAL INJECTIONS MAY STOP UNTIL RULING
the US Supreme Court halted an execution in Mississippi, less than an hour
- OCTOBER 29, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the American Bar Association (ABA) renewed its call for a nationwide...
the American Bar Association (ABA) renewed its call for a nationwide...