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 18, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Gallup poll: 53% of Americans in favor of the death penalty
The number masks considerable differences between older and younger Americans
NOVEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Trump wants to expand death penalty
For child rapists, immigrants who kill U.S. citizens, human traffickers and drug dealers
NOVEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Guantanamo. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin appeals plea
For the September 11 defendants
NOVEMBER 10, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Guantanamo. Military Judge Postpones Guilty Plea Proceedings in Sept. 11 Case
- NOVEMBER 7, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Plea deals revived for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 2 co-defendants
No death penalty for Sept. 11 attacks
NOVEMBER 7, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Biden Urged To Prevent Death Row Execution Spree Under Trump
- OCTOBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Trump insists on the death penalty for drug dealers
As suggested to him by Chinese leader Xi Jinping
OCTOBER 10, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - A new documentary, “Rebel Nun,” tells the story of Sister Helen Prejan
40 years against the death penalty
OCTOBER 1, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Last Week America Carried Out Its 1,600th Execution Since 1976.
When Will the Madness Stop?
SEPTEMBER 30, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Rulings for 2 Death-Sentenced Prisoners Recognize Devastating Harm Caused by Solitary Confinement
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Richard Branson and 350 business leaders renew call to end death penalty
SEPTEMBER 13, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - 3 Americans and 34 Others Sentenced to Death in Congo
On Coup Charges
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Defense Secretary Revoked a Plea Deal in the 9/11 Case. Or Did He?
SEPTEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - The Central Park 5 are exonerated. Trump doesn't seem to think so
- AUGUST 22, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Exonerated members of Central Park 5 warn about Trump at Democratic convention
AUGUST 16, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Trump and Harris records on criminal justice policy
- AUGUST 2, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - U.S. defense secretary rejects plea deal for 9/11 mastermind
Puts death penalty back on table
JULY 31, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Accused Sept. 11 Plotters Agree to Plead Guilty at Guantánamo Bay
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi
JULY 1, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - California. Larry Roberts Becomes the 200th Person Exonerated from Death Row
JULY 1, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - DPIC Releases Report on Politicization of the Death Penalty
- JUNE 16, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Activists ask Biden to commute all federal death sentences
Trump could execute 40 prisoners in second term 'bloodbath'
JUNE 6, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Maryland. Kenneth J. Lighty gets 2 life sentences at resentencing
Federal sentence
- MAY 28, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Guantánamo prosecutors accused of “outrageous” misconduct
For trying to use torture testimony
- MAY 20, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Death Row USA Fall 2023 Report
As of October 1, 2023: Continued Decline of Death Row Population
MAY 20, 2024United KingdomDEATH PENALTYMay 20, 2024 . United Kingdom. Assange wins right to challenge US extradition
MAY 8, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - The Events in the Lives of Women on U.S. Death Row
Article of New Cardozo Law Review
MAY 7, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Under 1% of Catholics follow the Pope on abortion, death penalty, euthanasia
MAY 6, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Lethal drugs source of 2020/21 federal executions confirmed
Connecticut-based "Absolute Standards Inc."
MAY 6, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - America’s prison system is turning into a de facto nursing home
More and more older people are spending their dying years behind bars
MAY 2, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Federal prosecutors won't challenge Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appeal case
Boston Marathon bomber