The abolition of the death penalty
Archive theme
The association places countries in four states: retentionist, abolitionist in practice — no executions for at least ten years —, abolitionist for ordinary crimes, and abolitionist for all crimes. Moving from one state to the next is almost always slow: first the executions stop, then the law changes.
This page collects the news on abolitions, legislative reforms, constitutional rulings and changes of state. The current legal status of every country is in the database.
Latest news
- NOVEMBER 18, 2019PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania ends solitary confinement of inmates on death row.
USA - Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania ends solitary confinement of inmates on death row.
NOVEMBER 7, 2019Bosnia & HerzegovinaDEATH PENALTYBOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ABOLISHES DEATH SENTENCE IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) abolished death sentence in Republika Srpska (RS) entity.
- OCTOBER 9, 2019DEATH BY PUNISHMENT
LIFE IN PRISON: HANDS OFF CAIN, DECISION CEDU MILESTONE ON THE WAY TO ABOLISH THE LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT PAROLE
For the association Hands Off Cain, after years of working with the Radical Party for the abolition of “ergastolo ostativo” (life imprisonment without parole), the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which finalized the ruling in the case of M
- AUGUST 28, 2019ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. The extensive use of solitary confinement is unconstitutional, federal judge rules.
USA - Connecticut. The extensive use of solitary confinement is unconstitutional, federal judge rules.
- AUGUST 5, 2019DEATH PENALTY
OREGON (USA): GOVERNOR KATE BROWN SIGNS SB 1013 NARROWING USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY
Calling the state’s death penalty “dysfunctional,” “costly,” and “immoral,” Oregon Governor Kate Brown on August 1, 2019 signed a bill significantly limiting the crimes for which capital punishment can be imposed in the state.
- AUGUST 1, 2019OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. Governor Kate Brown Signs SB 1013 Narrowing Use Death Penalty and Emptying Death Row
USA - Oregon. Governor Kate Brown Signs SB 1013 Narrowing Use Death Penalty and Emptying Death Row
- JULY 30, 2019DEATH PENALTY
USA: EVERY TOP 2020 DEMOCRAT SUPPORTS ENDING THE DEATH PENALTY
A few hours after the Trump administration announced it was bringing back federal executions, former vice president and 2020 candidate Joe Biden had a single message: abolish the death penalty.
- JULY 23, 2019United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Every top 2020 Democrat supports ending the death penalty.
USA - Every top 2020 Democrat supports ending the death penalty.
JULY 15, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: GOVT. FAST-TRACKS MOVES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
The Government on 12 July 2019 fast tracked its move to have the death penalty abolished in the country by having a private members bill published in the Gazette hours after a motion to this effect was tabled in the House.
JULY 3, 2019DEATH PENALTYUSA: DEATH PENALTY ABOLITIONISTS FASTING AT SUPREME COURT
As Death Penalty Use Declines, Highly Visible Anti-Death Penalty Activists from AAC (Abolitionist Action Committee) Continue Four Day Fast and Vigil at U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
- JUNE 29, 2019OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. The Senate passed SB 1013 to restrict capital punishment.
USA - Oregon. The Senate passed SB 1013 to restrict capital punishment.
- JUNE 17, 2019CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Poll finds Californians support the death penalty and moratorium on executions.
USA - California. Poll finds Californians support the death penalty and moratorium on executions.
- MAY 31, 2019DEATH PENALTY
NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA): DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED
New Hampshire has abolished the death penalty.
- MAY 30, 2019New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. New Hampshire has abolished the death penalty.
USA - New Hampshire. New Hampshire has abolished the death penalty.
- MAY 21, 2019OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Judge Brian J. Corrigan formally sentenced Joseph McAlpin to death.
USA - Ohio. Judge Brian J. Corrigan formally sentenced Joseph McAlpin to death.
- MAY 14, 2019LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. The House Administration of Criminal Justice advanced HB 215 to abolish the death penalty.
USA - Louisiana. The House Administration of Criminal Justice advanced HB 215 to abolish the death penalty.
- MAY 6, 2019LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. Senate rejected SB 112 to abolish death penalty
USA - Louisiana. Senate rejected SB 112 to abolish death penalty
- APRIL 30, 2019LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. Senate panel OKs bill to abolish death penalty.
USA - Louisiana. Senate panel OKs bill to abolish death penalty.
- APRIL 25, 2019NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Senate rejects LB 44, a new attempt to abolish death penalty.
USA - Nebraska. Senate rejects LB 44, a new attempt to abolish death penalty.
- APRIL 19, 2019Equatorial GuineaDEATH PENALTY
EQUATORIAL GUINEA TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY – BUT DEMOCRATICALLY
The last time Equatorial Guinea applied the death sentence was in 2014 but President Obiang Nguema has given a strong hint that the judicial measure will soon be abolished.
- APRIL 15, 2019DEATH PENALTY
NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA): SENATE PASSES DEATH-PENALTY REPEAL WITH VETO-PROOF MAJORITY
In a vote death-penalty opponents praised as “historic,” a veto-proof supermajority of the New Hampshire legislature on 11 April 2019 gave final approval to a bill that would repeal the state’s death penalty statute.
- APRIL 5, 2019IowaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Iowa. SF 296 to reinstate the death penalty died in a House Committee
USA - Iowa. SF 296 to reinstate the death penalty died in a House Committee
- APRIL 2, 2019ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Colorado. Proponents of death-penalty repeal bill SB 19-182 withdraw the bill
USA - Colorado. Proponents of death-penalty repeal bill SB 19-182 withdraw the bill
- MARCH 20, 2019TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
BRITISH OFFICE TAIPEI CALLS FOR TAIWAN TO END DEATH PENALTY
The British Office Taipei, which maintains and develops relations between the United Kingdom and Taiwan, called on 18 March 2019 for Taiwan to abolish the death penalty on the basis of human rights.
- MARCH 15, 2019NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. The Judiciary Committee passed LB44 to repeal the death penalty.
USA - Nebraska. The Judiciary Committee passed LB44 to repeal the death penalty.
- MARCH 13, 2019DEATH PENALTY
CALIFORNIA’S 737 DEATH ROW INMATES GET REPRIEVE FROM GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is halting the execution of 737 death row inmates on the nation’s largest death row on 13 March.
- MARCH 12, 2019CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. All death row inmates get reprieve from Governor Gavin Newsom.
USA - California. All death row inmates get reprieve from Governor Gavin Newsom.
- MARCH 7, 2019New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. House passed HB 455 to repeal the death penalty
USA - New Hampshire. House passed HB 455 to repeal the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 22, 2019KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. House Committee defeated HB 2282 to repeal capital punishment
USA - Kansas. House Committee defeated HB 2282 to repeal capital punishment
- FEBRUARY 18, 2019DEATH PENALTY
WASHINGTON (USA): SENATE PASSES DEATH PENALTY REPEAL BILL
Washington Senate on 15 February 2019 passed death penalty repeal bill (SB 5339).