Executions by County

Although counties do not carry out executions, in almost all states the decision to seek the death penalty is made by the county district attorney. A small number of counties are responsible for a disproportionate number of the executions in the United States. DPIC's Execution Database now has information on the original county for each case. Search results can be sorted by county.

Top 15 Counties by Execution Since 1976

Top 15 Counties by Execution Since 1976 (Excluding Texas)

Top 10 Counties by Number of Murders 2006 - 2010

Total Number of Counties in the U.S. = 3,148 (source: U.S. Census Bureau)

Execution numbers accurate as of 9/12/2011

Top 15 counties since 1976
(major cities within county in parentheses):

1. Harris County (Houston), TX - 115

2. Dallas County (Dallas/Fort Worth), TX - 46

3. Tarrant County (Fort Worth), TX - 36

4. Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City), OK - 36

5. Bexar County (San Antonio), TX - 31

6. St. Louis County*, MO - 16

7. Montgomery County, TX - 14

8. Jefferson County, TX - 12

9. Brazos County, TX - 11

10. Nueces County, TX - 11

11. Potter County, TX - 11

12. Pima County (Tuscon), AZ - 10

13. Hamilton County (Cincinnati), OH - 10

14. Jefferson County (Birmingham), AL - 10

15. Mobile County (Mobile), AL - 10

*St. Louis City is an independent city that borders St. Louis County.
Florissant, a suburb of the city, is in St. Louis county.

Top 15 counties since 1976
Not including Texas
(major cities within county in parentheses):

1. Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City), OK - 36

2. St. Louis County*, MO - 16

3. Pima County (Tuscon), AZ - 10

4. Hamilton County (Cincinnati), OH - 10

5. Jefferson County (Birmingham), AL - 10

6. Mobile County (Mobile), AL - 10

7. Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ - 9

8. Prince William County, VA - 9

9. Charleston County (Charleston), SC - 8

10. Chesterfield County, VA - 8

11. Miami-Dade County (Miami), FL - 8

12. New Castle County, DE - 8

13. St. Louis City, MO - 8

14. Tulsa County (Tulsa), OK - 8

15. Virginia Beach City, VA - 8

*St. Louis City is an independent city that borders St. Louis County.
Florissant, a suburb of the city, is in St. Louis county.

Top 10 counties by number of murders
2006 - 2010
(major cities within county in parentheses):

1. Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles)

2. Cook County, IL (Chicago)

3. Harris County, TX (Houston)

4. Wayne County, MI (Detroit)

5. Philadelphia County, PA (Philadelphia)

6. Baltimore City, MD

7. Kings County, NY (part of New York City)

8. Orleans Parish, LA (New Orleans)

9. Dallas County, TX (Dallas)

10. Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix)

Murder data source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2006 - 2010

Execution data taken from DPIC's Execution Database. Thanks to Professor Frank Baumgartner at University of North Carolina for county information.

Additional resources:

See F. Baumgartner "The Geography of the Death Penalty" (2010)
R. Smith, "The Geography of the Death Penalty and it's Ramifications" (Boston University Law Review, forthcoming)
J. Liebman and P. Clarke, "Minority Practice, Majority's Burden: The Death Penalty Today" (Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, forthcoming)