The Death Penalty in 2024: Death Sentences and Executions Remain Near Historic Lows Amid Growing Concerns about Fairness and Innocence Read Now
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Latest News

Human Rights April 14, 2025 Amnesty International Global Report (2024): Lowest Number of Countries Carried Out Highest Number of Recorded Executions in a Decade
Military April 17, 2025 Guantanamo Judge Rules Government Cannot Use Confession Obtained Through Torture in 9/11 Capital Case
Lethal Injection April 16, 2025 Tennessee Death Row Prisoners Ask Governor Lee to Halt Scheduled Executions While Courts Assess Constitutionality of New Lethal Injection Protocol
Representation April 15, 2025 United States Supreme Court Denies Review for Death-Sentenced Missouri Man Whose Jury Foreman Was Removed for Bias
Youth April 10, 2025 A Retreat from the Harshest Punishments for Emerging Adult Defendants
Innocence April 9, 2025 Paul House, Death Row Exoneree and Activist, Dies at 63
Costs April 8, 2025 Records Request Reveals Indiana Department of Corrections Spent $900,000 for Lethal Injection Drugs
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DPI is a national non-profit organization providing news, data, and facts about the death penalty.

With over 20 special reports on issues including innocence, race, arbitrariness, and costs, DPI’s work has informed and shaped the national discussion on this critical issue.

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Innocence Database Since 1973, at least 200 people wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated.
Execution Database 1619 men and women have been executed in the United States since the 1970s
Death Penalty Census The Census currently lists more than 9918 sentences imposed between 1972 and January 1, 2025.

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Innocence

12:01 The Death Penalty in Context: Sabrina Butler-Smith on Wrongful Convictions and Motherhood

In this month’s pod­cast episode of *12:01 The Death Penalty in Context*, DPI’s Managing Director Anne Holsinger speaks with Sabrina Butler-Smith...

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Sabrina Butler-Smith on Wrongful Convictions and Motherhood

Featured Research & Reports

Executions March 24, 2025 Four Executions in Three Days Spotlight Constitutional Concerns About Death Penalty Methods of Execution March 4, 2025 South Carolina Preparing for State’s First Firing Squad Execution, Marking First Firing Squad Execution in U.S. in 15 Years Clemency March 3, 2025 Alabama Governor Grants Clemency to Robin ‘Rocky’ Myers, Sparing Him from Execution Innocence February 25, 2025 U.S. Supreme Court Rules Prosecutors Violated Ethical Responsibilities in Richard Glossip’s Case, Orders a New Trial Year-End Reports December 19, 2024 The Death Penalty in 2024 Racial Justice Reports November 14, 2024 Fool's Gold: How the Federal Death Penalty Has Perpetuated Racially Discriminatory Practices Throughout History In-Depth Reports July 1, 2024 Lethal Election: How the U.S. Electoral Process Increases the Arbitrariness of the Death Penalty Racial Justice Reports May 14, 2024 Broken Promises: How a History of Racial Violence and Bias Shaped Ohio's Death Penalty

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