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
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...
- OCTOBER 28, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. LAWYERS' GROUP CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE HALT TO EXECUTIONS
serious problems in state death penalty systems compromise fairness and
- OCTOBER 26, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers...
the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers...
- OCTOBER 22, 2007United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE. AMERICAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SHARJAH
the Sharia Court of First Instance in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates...
- OCTOBER 21, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
US AND IRAQ AGREE TO DROP EXECUTION OF SADDAM'S DEFENCE MINISTER
US AND IRAQ AGREE TO DROP EXECUTION OF SADDAM'S DEFENCE MINISTER
- OCTOBER 10, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments in Medellin v. Texas...
the U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments in Medellin v. Texas...
- OCTOBER 1, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
the FBI’s recently released Uniform Crime Reports...
the FBI’s recently released Uniform Crime Reports...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA. SUPREME COURT HALTS EXECUTION OF CONVICTED MURDERER IN TEXAS
The US Supreme Court stepped to halt the execution of a Texas man convicted of killing his parents nine years ago.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA. SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON LETHAL INJECTION EXECUTIONS
The US Supreme Court said it would decide whether the commonly used lethal
- JULY 31, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
blacks convicted of killing whites are not only more likely than other killers...
blacks convicted of killing whites are not only more likely than other killers...
- JUNE 9, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. DPIC'S NEW POLL AND REPORT SHOWS AMERICA BECOMING MORE DISTANT FROM THE DEATH PENALTY
Because of mistakes and a lack of efficacy, the death penalty is losing
- JUNE 7, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge William Thomas sentenced Victor Caraballo to death
USA - Florida. Judge William Thomas sentenced Victor Caraballo to death
- JUNE 4, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Supreme Court, in 5-4 vote, restores death sentence in Washington murder case.
Supreme Court, in 5-4 vote, restores death sentence in Washington murder case.