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
- JANUARY 1, 2018New JerseyDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2018HawaiiDEATH PENALTY
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1956 before becoming a state
- JANUARY 1, 2018MaineDEATH PENALTY
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1887
- JANUARY 1, 2018MassachusettsDEATH PENALTY
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2018West VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
- JANUARY 1, 2018MinnesotaDEATH PENALTY
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
- JANUARY 1, 2018North DakotaDEATH PENALTY
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2018IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2018Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2018LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On 26 January 2012, Latvia ratified Protocol No. 13 to the Convention
On 26 January 2012, Latvia ratified Protocol No. 13 to the Convention
- JANUARY 1, 2018ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
- JANUARY 1, 2018IrelandDEATH PENALTY
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990.
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2018Puerto RicoDEATH PENALTY
The prohibition of the death penalty is enshrined in the 1952 Bill of Rights, incorporated in Article II of the Constitution.
The prohibition of the death penalty is enshrined in the 1952 Bill of Rights, incorporated in Article II of the Constitution.
- DECEMBER 19, 2017JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN HANGS 2 INMATES; FIRST EXECUTIONS SINCE JULY
Japan hanged two death-row inmates in the morning, including a 44-year-old man who killed four people when he was a minor, the Justice Ministry said.
- DECEMBER 18, 2017DEATH PENALTY
THE DECADE OF THE UN MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
statement by Hands off Cain, Arab Organization for Human Rights, Arab Institute for Human Rights and Somali Women Agenda
- DECEMBER 4, 2017DEATH PENALTY
LAWSUIT: NEBRASKA VOTE TO RESTORE DEATH PENALTY DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE PREVIOUSLY SENTENCED TO DEATH
The ACLU of Nebraska, the ACLU Capital Punishment Project, and the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state's eleven death-sentenced prisoners seeking to bar Nebraska "from carrying out any executions or taking steps to
- DECEMBER 4, 2017NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Lawsuit: Nebraska Vote to Restore Death Penalty Does Not Apply to Those Previously Sentenced to Death.
USA - Nebraska. Lawsuit: Nebraska Vote to Restore Death Penalty Does Not Apply to Those Previously Sentenced to Death.
- NOVEMBER 27, 2017Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Govt. rejects CRC recommendation to abolish death penalty
27 November 2017: in the newly released White Paper on the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) Report, the government indicated that it will retain the death penalty in Section 16 (1) of the 1991 Constitution.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2017South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a poll was released by Realmeter and commissioned by local broadcaster CBS.
a poll was released by Realmeter and commissioned by local broadcaster CBS.
- OCTOBER 26, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Report Documents “Dramatic Rise” in Republican Support for Death-Penalty Repeal.
USA - New Report Documents “Dramatic Rise” in Republican Support for Death-Penalty Repeal.
OCTOBER 26, 2017DEATH PENALTYUSA: NEW REPORT DOCUMENTS ‘DRAMATIC RISE’ IN REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR DEATH-PENALTY REPEAL
"The death penalty is dying in the United States, and Republicans are contributing to its demise," concludes a new report, The Right Way, released on October 25 by the advocacy group Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty.
OCTOBER 26, 2017GuatemalaDEATH PENALTYGUATEMALA: HIGH COURT ABOLISHES DEATH PENALTY IN CIVIL CASES
Guatemala's highest court has abolished the death penalty for civil cases in a landmark ruling announced on October 26.
- OCTOBER 17, 2017ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND MOVES TOWARDS ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
As many as 447 convicts are now on death row in Thailand, which is reviewing the use of the death penalty.
- OCTOBER 10, 2017United NationsDEATH PENALTY
'THE DEATH PENALTY HAS NO PLACE IN THE 21ST CENTURY' – UN CHIEF GUTERRES
The death penalty does little to deter crimes or serve victims, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, calling on all countries which have not forbidden the extreme practice to urgently stop executions.
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2017TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
TUNISIA: CONFERENCE ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN TIME OF WAR ON TERRORISM
The conference on the death penalty in time of war on terrorism that ended in Tunis was unanimous in believing that the death penalty does not contain or solve the problem of terrorism.
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2017TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
the Human Rights Council adopted the final documents resulting from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Tunisia.
the Human Rights Council adopted the final documents resulting from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Tunisia.
- AUGUST 7, 2017MaldivesDEATH PENALTY
Maldives ready for executions in September, president declares
7 August 2017: the Maldives will be ready to carry out the first executions in more than 60 years next month, President Abdulla Yameen declared amid growing international concern over the reintroduction of the death penalty.
- MAY 26, 2017ItalyDEATH PENALTY
PROTOCOL TO CONTAIN THE DEATH PENALTY SIGNED BY HOC AND CNF
"Containing the death penalty in time war on terrorism in Egypt, Somalia and Tunisia."
- MAY 17, 2017LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. The House Criminal Justice Committee rejects SB 142 to end the death penalty.
USA - Louisiana. The House Criminal Justice Committee rejects SB 142 to end the death penalty.
- APRIL 25, 2017LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. The Senate's Judiciary Committee voted to abolish death penalty
USA - Louisiana. The Senate's Judiciary Committee voted to abolish death penalty