Death Row in the United States [2024]

Death row in the United States has long been a subject of intense debate, reflecting the nation’s evolving perspectives on justice, morality, and human rights. As of 2024, the landscape of capital punishment continues to shift, influenced by legal battles, shifting public opinion, and the relentless work of advocacy groups. Through a comprehensive analysis, the Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers at The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin, Perry & Wiley, P.C. aim to provide a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding this contentious issue in America.

History of Death Row in the United States

The history of death row in the United States reflects the nation’s evolving legal standards and cultural attitudes. Capital punishment dates back to 1608, with practices influenced by English common law. In the 20th century, reforms emerged due to concerns over wrongful convictions and ethical issues, leading to the introduction of methods like the electric chair and gas chamber.

The landmark Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia in 1972 temporarily halted executions, citing arbitrary application. In 1976, Gregg v. Georgia reinstated the death penalty under revised statutes. Subsequent decisions, such as Atkins v. Virginia (2002) and Roper v. Simmons (2005), further refined its application by prohibiting executions of intellectually disabled individuals and minors, respectively.

Does the Death Penalty Serve as a Deterrent for Crime?

Proponents of the death penalty hold that it serves as a deterrent to violent crime, provides justice and closure to victims’ families, and prevents recidivism. They also hold that some criminals are irredeemable and that the death penalty is the only way to ensure public safety.

However, several prominent organizations, including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), strongly oppose the death penalty and advocate for its abolition through legislative reform. Their research indicates there is no evidence that capital punishment deters crime and that it is both inequitable and unjust. As of this writing, 23 states and the District of Columbia have abolished capital punishment.

Amount of Death Row Executions by Year

Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, there have been a total of 1,582 executions in the United States.

The number of executions in the United States has fluctuated significantly over the years, reflecting changing attitudes toward the death penalty and variations in legal practices. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, executions were relatively rare, with only a few carried out each year. However, from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, there was a marked increase, peaking at 98 executions in 1999. 

The trend began to decline in the 2000s, with the annual number of executions generally decreasing. For instance, the numbers fell from 85 in 2000 to 20 in 2016. More recently, the annual count has remained lower, with 24 executions in 2023. Overall, there have been 1,582 executions recorded, highlighting a complex evolution in the use of capital punishment over the past several decades.

Amount of Death Row Executions by State

State	Executions
Texas	586
Oklahoma	123
Virginia	113
Florida	105
Missouri	97
Georgia	76
Alabama	72
Ohio	56
North Carolina	43
South Carolina	43
Arizona	40
Arkansas	31
Louisiana	28
Mississippi	23
Indiana	20
Delaware	16
U.S. Gov	16
California	13
Tennessee	13
Illinois	12
Nevada	12
Utah	7
Maryland	5
South Dakota	5
Washington	5
Nebraska	4
Idaho	3
Kentucky	3
Montana	3
Pennsylvania	3
Oregon	2
Colorado	1
Connecticut	1
New Mexico	1
Wyoming	1
Alaska	0
District of Columbia	0
Hawaii	0
Iowa	0
Kansas	0
Maine	0
Massachusetts	0
Michigan	0
Minnesota	0
New Hampshire	0
New Jersey	0
New York	0
North Dakota	0
Rhode Island	0
Vermont	0
West Virginia	0
Wisconsin	0
Total	1582

The distribution of executions across U.S. states reveals significant regional differences in the application of the death penalty. Texas leads by a wide margin with 586 executions, followed by Oklahoma with 123 and Florida with 105. Other states with notable numbers include Virginia with 113 and Missouri with 97. 

In contrast, many states have carried out very few or no executions at all; for example, 14 States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, and others have recorded zero executions. States like Colorado, Connecticut, and New Mexico each have only one execution. This variation underscores the patchwork nature of capital punishment in the United States, influenced by local laws, judicial practices, and shifting public opinions.

5 States with the Most Executions

The top five states with the highest number of executions highlight regional differences in the use of capital punishment. Texas leads by a significant margin with 586 executions, followed by Oklahoma with 123 and Virginia with 113. Florida ranks fourth with 105 executions, while Missouri rounds out the top five with 97. These states have consistently enforced the death penalty more frequently than others, reflecting both legal frameworks and historical practices that support its use.

How Many Prisoners are Currently on Death Row?

State	Prisoners Currently in Death Row
California	641
Florida	294
Texas	181
Alabama	167
North Carolina	140
Ohio	119
Arizona	115
Pennsylvania	113
Louisiana	63
Nevada	60
Tennessee	45
U.S. Gov	42
Georgia	40
Mississippi	36
Oklahoma	36
South Carolina	35
Arkansas	27
Kentucky	26
Missouri	13
Nebraska	11
Kansas	9
Idaho	8
Indiana	8
Utah	7
U.S. Military	4
Montana	2
New Hampshire	1
South Dakota	1
Alaska	0
Colorado	0
Connecticut	0
Delaware	0
District of Columbia	0
Hawaii	0
Illinois	0
Iowa	0
Maine	0
Maryland	0
Massachusetts	0
Michigan	0
Minnesota	0
New Jersey	0
New Mexico	0
New York	0
North Dakota	0
Oregon	0
Rhode Island	0
Vermont	0
Virginia	0
Washington	0
West Virginia	0
Wisconsin	0
Wyoming	0
Total	2244

As of now, there are 2,244 individuals on death row across the United States, reflecting a diverse geographic distribution and varying numbers by state. Despite California halting executions in 2006, they are currently the state with the highest number of death row inmates with 641 prisoners, followed by Florida with 294 and Texas with 181. In contrast, there are a total of 24 states and jurisdictions, including Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and others, that have no death row inmates. 

This variation highlights the uneven application of the death penalty across the country, influenced by state-specific policies, legal challenges, and shifts in public opinion. Additionally, the federal government and the military each have a small number of death row prisoners, with 42 and 4 respectively. The distribution of death row inmates underscores the complex and often fragmented nature of capital punishment in the United States.

How Many Women Were in Death Row?

The disparity between male and female executions in the United States is notable. Out of the 1,602 individuals executed since the death penalty was reinstated, 1,584 were men, while only 18 were women. This stark difference reflects the broader trends in the criminal justice system, where women constitute a very small percentage of those sentenced to death and subsequently executed. 

Ethnicities of People Executed on Death Row

The ethnic breakdown of individuals executed on death row in the United States shows a clear predominance of White individuals, who account for 885 of the 1,581 executions. Black individuals are the second-largest group, with 539 executions, followed by Latinx individuals with 131. Native Americans and Asians represent smaller proportions, with 19 and 8 executions, respectively. This distribution highlights the varying representation of different ethnic groups among those executed, reflecting differences in the application of capital punishment across racial and ethnic lines.

Death Row Final Meals

The tradition of offering a final meal to inmates on death row is a unique and long-standing practice in the United States. This ritual, observed across various states, allows prisoners to request a meal of their choice before their execution. The concept of a final meal has garnered public attention over the years, often highlighting the personal preferences of those facing their last moments.

While some people often go all out and request huge meals and some request smaller meals, other people have also made some other interesting or specific requests.

Interesting Final Meals

Matthew Reeves

Date of Execution: January 27, 2022

Charges: Capital Murder

Final Meal: Reeves originally declined his final meal but later asked for just a bottle of Sprite.

 

Odell Barnes Jr.

Date of Execution: March 1, 2000

Charges: Capital Murder

Final Meal: Barnes also declined his final meal but had a special “final meal” request of “Justice, Equality, World Peace.”

 

James Edward Smith

Date of Execution: June 26, 1990

Charges: Capital Murder

Final Meal: Smith requested “Rhaeakunda dirt” as his final meal. It is not completely understood why but it is believed that it is a type of dirt used in voodoo, where the dirt is eaten.

 

Thomas J. Grasso

Date of Execution: March 20, 1995

Charges: First-Degree Murder

Final Meal: Grasso requested a huge meal consisting of a double cheeseburger from Burger King, a half-dozen barbeque ribs, two dozen steamed mussels, two dozen steamed clams, half a pumpkin pie with whipped cream, diced strawberries, two strawberry milkshakes, and a 16-ounce can of SpagehttiO’s. Before his execution, he gave a final statement complaining that he did not get his SpaghettiO’s but got spaghetti and wanted the press to know about it.

 

Ledell Lee

Date of Execution: April 20, 2017

Charges: Capital Murder and Rape

Final Meal: Lee requested Holy Communion as his final meal.

 

Gary Carl Simmons Jr.

Date of Execution: April 

Charges: Capital Murder, Kidnapping, Rape

Final Meal: Simmons requested a feast of almost 29,000 calories. This feast included one medium Super Supreme Deep Dish pizza from Pizza Hut with double portions, including mushrooms, onions, jalapeno peppers, pepperoni and another pizza with regular portions of three cheeses, olives, bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic and Italian sausage. Other foods in the feast are a family-size bag of nacho cheese Doritos, jalapeno nacho cheese, sliced jalapenos, 2 large strawberry shakes, a super-size order of McDonald’s french fries, two 20-oz of cherry Coke, and two pints of strawberry ice cream.

 

Peter J. Miniel

Date of Execution: October 6, 2004

Charges: Capital Murder

Final Meal: Miniel’s final meal consisted of 20 beef tacos, 20 beef enchiladas, a pizza with jalapenos, fried chicken, spaghetti with salt, half a chocolate cake, half a vanilla cake, cookies and cream ice cream, caramel pecan fudge ice cream, a fruit cake, two Cokes, two Pepsi’s, two root beers, and two orange juices.

Methodology

The data presented in this report was sourced from the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and its Death Row USA Winter 2024 quarterly report. It covers the period from the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 through January 1, 2024, and reflects all recorded executions in the United States during this timeframe.

This report specifically excludes any executions that occurred prior to 1976, focusing solely on the modern era of capital punishment. By doing so, the data provides a comprehensive view of how the death penalty has been applied in the U.S. since its reinstatement.