Search results
As the United States began to expand west, most new states favored the death penalty, and hanging continued to be the most popular means of execution. In addition, disregarding the trend set by many northern states, these states would hang criminals for offenses like robbery and rape.
- Lethal Injection. In 1977, Oklahoma became the first state to adopt lethal injection as a means of execution, though it would be five more years until Charles Brooks would become the first person executed by lethal injection in Texas on December 2, 1982.
- Electrocution. Seeking a more humane method of execution than hanging, New York built the first electric chair in 1888 and executed William Kemmler in 1890.
- Gas Chamber. In 1924, the use of cyanide gas was introduced as Nevada sought a more humane way of executing its condemned prisoners. Gee Jon was the first person executed by lethal gas.
- Firing Squad. On March 23, 2015, firing squad was reauthorized in Utah as a viable method of execution if, and only if the state was unable to obtain the drugs necessary to carry out a lethal injection execution.
Electrocution is legal in only eight states: South Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama. Lethal gas is legal for executions in seven states: Wyoming, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, California, Arizona, Alabama. There are also firing squads.
Methods Of Execution. Authorized Methods by State. *Colorado abolished the death penalty prospectively on March 23, 2020, and those on death row at that time had their sentences commuted.
StateAuthorized MethodsAlabamaEffective 7/1/18, lethal injection will ...ArizonaAuthorizes lethal injection for persons ...ArkansasLethal injection is the method unless it ...CaliforniaProvides that lethal injection be ...Apr 22, 2024 · The primary means of execution in the U.S. have been hanging, electrocution, the gas chamber, firing squad, and lethal injection. The Supreme Court has never found a method of execution to be unconstitutional, though some methods have been declared unconstitutional by state courts.
Aug 26, 2021 · 21 states executed one or more inmates in the last 10 years (including three states that have since banned the death penalty: Delaware, Virginia, and Washington) and 13 states in the past five years (including one state that has since banned the penalty: Virginia).
Jan 26, 2024 · The states with the next-highest totals are Oklahoma (123 since 1977), Virginia (113), Florida (105) and Missouri (97). Then-Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation abolishing the...
