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THE DEATH PENALTY IS DEEPLY FLAWED.
The death penalty in the U.S. is applied in an unfair and racially biased manner; risks the execution of the innocent; targets the most vulnerable in our society; and is used in just a few isolated counties across the country.
There is growing momentum to end the death penalty in the United States.
An increasing number of states and jurisdictions have abandoned the death penalty in law or in practice as the public, legislators, and governors grow increasingly concerned about the practice. Over the last few years, executions and death sentences have reached record lows. Public opinion polling reveals steady declines in support for the death penalty, and a clear preference among Americans for life sentences over the death penalty.
38
jurisdictions have abandoned the death penalty
36 states along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. military have either formally abandoned the death penalty, or haven't carried out an execution in 10 years or more.
States are choosing life
Since 2007, 11 states have formally replaced the death penalty, and more than a dozen others have attempted to do so in recent years.
4
Governors have halted executions
The governors of Oregon, California, and Pennsylvania have vowed not to perform an execution while systemic flaws persist. In Ohio, the governor has also said executions will not be carried out due to issues surrounding lethal injection.
Record low death sentences
For the past three years, juries have imposed record low numbers of death sentences. Today, executions are also at record lows and the number of people on death row is at its lowest point since 1992.
New voices are emerging
An array of religious, conservative, and cultural leaders, as well as leading professional and legal organizations have determined that the United States is better off without a death penalty.
The U.S. is an International outlier
The U.S is among only a handful of nations still carrying out executions, including Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and China. A 2020 report by Amnesty International found that the U.S. had the 6th highest number of executions worldwide.
The consensus is clear: 23 states and DC don't allow the death penalty, 13 states haven't carried out an execution in more than a decade, and 4 states have moratoriums on executions.
The death penalty is used against persons with severe mental and intellecutal disabilities, long histories of trauma and abuse, and youthful offenders.
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About the 8th Amendment Project
The 8th Amendment Project was created to unite the nationwide movement to end the death penalty in the United States.