Death Penalty Information Center
Coverage of Death Penalty Information Center in the Nexus archive.
- Since death penalty’s return 50 years ago, Missouri executes prisoners at high rate
Missouri ranks second in the U.S. for executions since the death penalty's reinstatement in 1972, having executed over half of those sentenced to death compared to 18% nationally. The state's high execution rate is criticized for racial disparities and inadequate consideration of factors like mental capacity, while death sentences have declined since the 1990s.
- Alabama nitrogen gas ruling could reverberate beyond state
Federal courts blocked Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas in executions, ruling it causes unconstitutional suffering. The decision may discourage other states from adopting the method and could influence debates over alternative execution methods like firing squads.
- Alabama nitrogen gas ruling could reverberate beyond state
Federal courts blocked Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas in executions, ruling it causes unconstitutional suffering. The decision may deter other states from adopting the method and could influence shifts toward firing squads as an alternative execution method.
- Alabama nitrogen gas ruling could reverberate beyond state
Federal courts blocked Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas in executions, ruling it causes unconstitutional suffering. The decision may discourage other states from adopting the method and could influence future execution practices, including potential shifts to firing squads.
- What to know about the evolution of execution methods in the US
A federal appeals court ruled that Alabama's use of nitrogen gas for executions requires further study to determine if it violates the constitutional ban on cruel punishment. The decision highlights ongoing debates over execution methods in the U.S., including lethal injection, electrocution, and firing squads, as states grapple with legal and logistical challenges.
- The state of the death penalty at the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of three death row inmates, overturning lower court decisions in Whitton v. Dixon, Pitchford v. Cain, and Hamm v. Smith. The rulings highlighted issues with DNA evidence handling, jury selection, and assessing intellectual disability, while states increased executions in 2025, with 47 people put to death. The Court has denied all 2026 execution delay requests but did not halt any executions.
- Justice Department to allow firing squads for executions in move to ramp up capital punishment
The U.S. Justice Department under the Trump administration will permit firing squads as an execution method and reauthorize pentobarbital-based lethal injections to accelerate capital punishment. This reverses Biden-era policies that limited such methods due to concerns over unnecessary suffering.