Executions Overview

States With No Recent Executions

Updated November 1, 2022

Although the United States is considered a death penalty country, executions are rare or non-existent in most of the nation: more than two-thirds of U.S. states—37 out of 50—have either abolished the death penalty or have not carried out an execution in at least 10 years. An additional 2 states have not had an execution in at least 5 years, for a total of 39 states with no death penalty or no executions in that time. Two additional jurisdictions (the District of Columbia and the Military) have not had an execution in at least 10 years.

The tables below list the jurisdictions with no executions in many years. The number in parentheses indicates total executions since 1976.



37 states, plus 2 jurisdictions (District of Columbia and Military), with no death penalty or no executions in at least 10 years

Jurisdictions With No Death PenaltyLast Execution

1. Alaska

Before 1976

2. Colorado (1)

October 13, 1997

3. Connecticut (1)

May 13, 2005

4. Delaware (16)

April 20, 2012

5. Hawaii

Before 1976

6. Illinois (12)

March 17, 1999

7. Iowa

Before 1976

8. Maine

Before 1976

9. Maryland (5)

December 5, 2005

10. Massachusetts

Before 1976

11. Michigan

Before 1976

12. Minnesota

Before 1976

13. New HampshireBefore 1976

14. New Jersey

Before 1976

15. New Mexico (1)

November 6, 2001

16. New York

Before 1976

17. North Dakota

Before 1976

18. Rhode Island

Before 1976

19. Vermont

Before 1976

20. Virginia (113)July 6, 2017

21. Washington (5)

Sept. 10, 2010

22. West Virginia

Before 1976

23. Wisconsin

Before 1976

24. District of Columbia

Before 1976

Jurisdictions With the Death PenaltyLast Execution

25. California (13)

January 17, 2006

26. Idaho (3)June 12, 2012
27. Indiana (20)December 11, 2009

28. Kansas (0)

Before 1976

29. Kentucky (3)

November 21, 2008

30. Louisiana (28)January 7, 2010

31. Montana (3)

August 11, 2006

32. Nevada (12)

April 26, 2006

33. North Carolina (43)

August 18, 2006

34. Oregon (2)

May 16, 1997

35. Pennsylvania (3)

July 6, 1999

36. South Carolina (43)May 6, 2011

37. Utah (7)

June 18, 2010

38. Wyoming (1)

January 22, 1992

39. U.S. Military (0)

Before 1976

38 states, plus 2 jurisdictions, with no death penalty or no executions in at least 5 years

Jurisdictions With No Death PenaltyLast Execution

1. Alaska

Before 1976

2. Colorado (1)

October 13, 1997

3. Connecticut (1)

May 13, 2005

4. Delaware (16)

April 20, 2012

5. Hawaii

Before 1976

6. Illinois (12)

March 17, 1999

7. Iowa

Before 1976

8. Maine

Before 1976

9. Maryland (5)

December 5, 2005

10. Massachusetts

Before 1976

11. Michigan

Before 1976

12. Minnesota

Before 1976

13. New HampshireBefore 1976

14. New Jersey

Before 1976

15. New Mexico (1)

November 6, 2001

16. New York

Before 1976

17. North Dakota

Before 1976

18. Rhode Island

Before 1976

19. Vermont

Before 1976

20. Virginia (113)July 6, 2017

21. Washington (5)

Sept. 10, 2010

22. West Virginia

Before 1976

23. Wisconsin

Before 1976

24. District of Columbia

Before 1976

Jurisdictions With the Death PenaltyLast Execution
25. Arkansas (31)April 27, 2017

26. California (13)

January 17, 2006

27. Idaho (3)

June 12, 2012

28. Indiana (20)

December 11, 2009

29. Kansas (0)

Before 1976

30. Kentucky (3)

November 21, 2008

31. Louisiana (28)

Jan. 7, 2010

32. Montana (3)

August 11, 2006

33. Nevada (12)

April 26, 2006

34. North Carolina (43)

August 18, 2006

35. Oregon (2)

May 16, 1997

36. Pennsylvania (3)July 6, 1999

37. South Carolina (43)

May 6, 2011

38. Utah (7)

June 18, 2010

39. Wyoming (1)

January 22, 1992

40. U.S. Military (0)

Before 1976