The use of the death penalty in the United States remains subdued, even as death penalty sentences saw a slight rise in 2024. According to a year-end report from the Death Penalty Information Center, 26 new death penalty sentences were handed down in 2024, a slight increase from the prior year. However, executions have remained close to historically low numbers with only 25 carried out across nine jurisdictions.
The year also witnessed some significant events concerning capital punishment. Alabama, for instance, became the first state to execute a prisoner using nitrogen gas. Furthermore, states such as Utah, South Carolina, and Indiana resumed executions after more than a decade-long pause.
Public sentiment regarding capital punishment seems to be shifting as well. The report highlights that public support for the death penalty remains at a five-decade low, particularly among younger Americans. Meanwhile, the percentage viewing the death penalty as morally acceptable has decreased to 55% from 60% the previous year.
In 2024, there were 200 death row exonerations, with several cases, such as those involving Marcellus Williams and Richard Glossip, bringing considerable focus to claims of innocence. While some states have enacted measures to limit the death penalty or amend execution procedures, attempts to reintroduce it failed in eight states.
Although certain measures against the death penalty seem to gain traction in the US, the international scene tells a different story with increased global executions, influenced heavily by actions in countries like Iran. The report underscores that 144 countries have abolished the death penalty de jure or de facto.
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