Death Penalty Sentencing Information

Executions Decline,
Death Sentences Fall Well Below 100

 
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On December 15, DPIC released "The Death Penalty in 2011: Year End Report," highlighting significant developments in capital punishment this year.  New death sentences dropped to 78 in 2011, representing a dramatic decline from last year’s 112 and marking the first time since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976 that the country has produced fewer than 100 death sentences in a single year.  Death sentences have declined about 75% since 1996, when 315 individuals were sentenced to death.  Executions have also steadily decreased nationwide, with 43 in 2011 and 46 in 2010, representing a 56% decline since 1999, when there were 98. Texas had 13 executions in 2011 and 24 in 2009, representing a 46 percent drop over two years.

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Furthermore, developments in a variety of states illustrated the growing discomfort that many Americans have with the death penalty. Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011, the governor of Oregon declared a moratorium on all executions, and a national outcry was heard around the execution of Troy Davis in Georgia because of doubts about his guilt. 

Read the 2011 Year End Report.  Read DPIC's Press Release.  See also previous DPIC Reports.

Listen to National Public Radio's coverage of DPIC's Report.

See coverage of report on NBC Nightly News (Dec.  17, 2011).