Which state has the highest execution rate?

Texas has been responsible for the most executions over recent years by far, with 593 since 1977 as of mid-February 2025. The states with the next-highest totals are Oklahoma (127), Virginia (113), Florida (107) and Missouri (101).

What are the top 5 states in terms of execution?

Executions per 100,000 Residents

• Oklahoma. 4,095,393. 127. 101.
• Texas. 31,290,831. 591. 889.
• Missouri. 6,245,466. 101. 617.
• Delaware* 1,051,917. 521.
• Alabama. 5,157,699. 512.
• Virginia* 8,811,195. 113. 282.
• Arkansas. 3,088,354. 003.
• South Carolina. 5,478,831. 821.

What state has executed the most?

The State of Texas has executed 596 people since 1982, more than any other state by far. Of these executions, 279 occurred during the administration of Texas Governor Rick Perry (2001-2014), more than any other governor in U.S. history.

Which state has the most inmates on death row?

Jurisdictions with the most prisoners on death row:

• California (690)
• Florida (323)
• Texas (199)
• Alabama (166)
• North Carolina (138)
• Ohio (134)
• Pennsylvania (128)
• Arizona (116)

What states have no execution?

Since 2009, seven states — Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Virginia — have legislatively abolished the death penalty, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

⚖️ Which U.S. States Have the Death Penalty & Which Don’t? (Full List & Map)

What is the average cost of a US execution?

Nationally, the death penalty costs taxpayers an average of $1 million than a life without parole sentence, making it the most expensive part of our criminal justice system on a per offender basis.

Why did Texas stop last meals?

On one occasion, the warden paid for an inmate's lobster dinner. In September 2011, Texas abolished its long-standing tradition of customized last meals after Lawrence Brewer requested a large, expensive meal and refused to eat any of it.

Who is the longest serving death row inmate in the US?

The longest-serving death row inmate was Raymond Riles of Texas, who spent over 45 years on death row before being resentenced to life in prison in 2021 due to mental incompetency, while Richard Jordan of Mississippi served nearly 50 years before his execution in 2025, making him one of the longest-serving individuals to face execution. Gary Alvord of Florida also held records for time on death row before his death in 2013, notes the Death Penalty Information Center. 

Why is Texas #1 in executions?

More generally, Steiker points out that Texas, unlike many other states, has worked out the statutory and procedural ​“kinks” in death penalty cases and appeals. In particular, Texas' 1995 law expediting state appeals has successfully cut down the time between conviction and execution.

What state has the most murders?

The states with the highest murder rates in 2023 were Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, and Tennessee.

What race is executed the most?

Race of Defendants Executed in the U.S. Since 1976

• Other. 0.2%
• Asian. 0.4%
• Native American or Alaskan Native. 1.3%
• Latino/a. 8%
• Black. 34%
• White. 56%

What is the shortest time on death row?

The shortest time on death row is often cited as Joe Gonzales in Texas, executed just 10 months after conviction in 1996 by waiving appeals, but the record for the shortest time between sentencing and execution in modern U.S. history belongs to Gary Gilmore, executed in 1977 after 3 months and 10 days, thanks to his voluntary waiver of appeals and expedited process, highlighting that delays usually stem from complex legal appeals. 

What states do not allow execution?

In recent years, New Mexico (2009), Illinois (2011), Connecticut (2012), Maryland (2013), New Hampshire (2019), Colorado (2020) and Virginia (2021) have legislatively abolished the death penalty, replacing it with a sentence of life imprisonment with no possibility for parole.

What states still use the electric chair?

As of 2024, the only jurisdictions that still have the electric chair as an option for execution are the U.S. states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee. Electrocution is also authorized in Florida if lethal injection is found unconstitutional.

When was the last execution in the US?

The last U.S. execution was by the federal government, with Dustin Higgs executed on January 16, 2021, but there have been numerous state executions since, with the most recent being Willard "Rocky" Rambo in Texas on November 15, 2025, making it the latest overall. 

Does Canada have the death penalty?

No, Canada does not have the death penalty; it was fully abolished in 1998, following its removal for most crimes in 1976, making Canada a country that opposes capital punishment in law and practice and works towards its global elimination. The last executions in Canada occurred in 1962, and the country's stance includes refusing extradition to countries where individuals may face capital punishment.
 

Which state has no death penalty?

In the United States, capital punishment (also known as the death penalty) is a legal penalty in 27 states (of which two, Oregon and Wyoming, have no inmates sentenced to death), throughout the country at the federal level, and in American Samoa. It is also a legal penalty for some military offenses.

Can you watch executions in Texas?

Yes, you can watch an execution in Texas if you are an authorized witness, such as a victim's family member/friend, a member of the inmate's approved list, or a designated media representative, with all viewing happening from behind a glass pane in designated viewing rooms. Texas law allows these specific groups to observe, but not the general public, though some news organizations offer commentary or reports. 

What is the average age of death row inmates?

U.S. capital punishment - prisoners under sentence of death 2021, by age. In 2021, around 12.2 percent of prisoners on death row in the United States were between 40 and 44 years of age. Most prisoners on death row, at 17.6 percent, were between the ages of 50 and 54 years old.

Has anyone outlived a life sentence?

Yes, some individuals have outlived their life sentences, either through commutation, resentencing, parole, or simply by being released due to changed laws or successful appeals, though it's rare for those serving life without parole (LWOP) to leave prison unless their sentence is changed, with figures like Joseph Lian serving decades before release. Many who outlive their sentences are juveniles or those who committed crimes decades ago, with circumstances like wrongful conviction or significant rehabilitation playing roles. 

Who is the oldest person on death row?

The oldest person on death row changes, but recently, Mississippi's Richard Jordan, 78, was set for execution in June 2025, while North Carolina's Blanche Taylor Moore, 90, is the oldest woman, though North Carolina hasn't executed anyone since 2006, making natural causes more likely. The oldest person executed in modern U.S. history was Alabama's Walter Moody, at 83 in 2018, and Oklahoma's Bigler Stouffer, 79, in 2021. 

What state kills the most inmates?

Which States Have Carried Out the Most Executions? Texas has been responsible for the most executions over recent years by far, with 593 since 1977 as of mid-February 2025. The states with the next-highest totals are Oklahoma (127), Virginia (113), Florida (107) and Missouri (101). Then-Democratic Gov.

Can you have alcohol with your last meal on death row?

No, generally you cannot have alcohol with your last meal on death row in the U.S.; prisons classify alcohol as contraband, and requests for it are typically denied, though some very rare historical exceptions or state-specific rules might exist, most modern policies ban it along with tobacco. Policies vary by state, but most prisons restrict final meals to items available within the facility or within a set budget (like $40 in Florida) and disallow intoxicating substances. 

What is the craziest last meal request from death row?

Weirdest death row last meals often involve bizarre combinations, excessive quantities, or spiteful refusals, like Thomas J. Graasso's huge seafood/fast food mix ending with a complaint about getting spaghetti instead of SpaghettiOs, or Lawrence Russell Brewer ordering a massive feast only to refuse to eat any of it, leading to the ban of special last meals in Texas. Other oddities include James Edward Smith requesting a lump of dirt (denied) and Adolf Eichmann requesting Israeli wine, notes Wikipedia and The Macon Newsroom.
 

Do death row inmates get conjugal visits?

No, death row inmates generally do not get conjugal visits; they are typically excluded from these programs, which are reserved for other inmates in the few states that offer them, like California, New York, and Washington. These private, family-style visits are for eligible inmates with good behavior, but prisoners facing execution or serving life sentences without parole (in some cases) are disqualified, as are those with sex offenses.