Executions Overview

States With No Recent Executions

Updated August 16, 2023

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.

Note: A botched execution where the prisoner survives is not included in determining when a state last carried out an execution.



 

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. AlaskaBefore 1976
2. Colorado (1)October 13, 1997
3. Connecticut (1)May 13, 2005
4. Delaware (16)April 20, 2012
5. HawaiiBefore 1976
6. Illinois (12)March 17, 1999
7. IowaBefore 1976
8. MaineBefore 1976
9. Maryland (5)December 5, 2005
10. MassachusettsBefore 1976
11. MichiganBefore 1976
12. MinnesotaBefore 1976
13. New HampshireBefore 1976
14. New JerseyBefore 1976
15. New Mexico (1)November 6, 2001
16. New YorkBefore 1976
17. North DakotaBefore 1976
18. Rhode IslandBefore 1976
19. VermontBefore 1976
20. Virginia (113)July 6, 2017
21. Washington (5)September 10, 2010
22. West VirginiaBefore 1976
23. WisconsinBefore 1976
24. District of ColumbiaBefore 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

 

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

Jurisdictions With No Death PenaltyLast Execution
1. AlaskaBefore 1976
2. Colorado (1)October 13, 1997
3. Connecticut (1)May 13, 2005
4. Delaware (16)April 20, 2012
5. HawaiiBefore 1976
6. Illinois (12)March 17, 1999
7. IowaBefore 1976
8. MaineBefore 1976
9. Maryland (5)December 5, 2005
10. MassachusettsBefore 1976
11. MichiganBefore 1976
12. MinnesotaBefore 1976
13. New HampshireBefore 1976
14. New JerseyBefore 1976
15. New Mexico (1)November 6, 2001
16. New YorkBefore 1976
17. North DakotaBefore 1976
18. Rhode IslandBefore 1976
19. VermontBefore 1976
20. Virginia (113)July 6, 2017
21. Washington (5)September 10, 2010
22. West VirginiaBefore 1976
23. WisconsinBefore 1976
24. District of ColumbiaBefore 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. Nebraska (4)August 14, 2018
34. Nevada (12)April 26, 2006
35. North Carolina (43)August 18, 2006
36. Oregon (2)May 16, 1997
37. Pennsylvania (3)July 6, 1999
38. South Carolina (43)May 6, 2011
39. Utah (7)June 18, 2010
40. Wyoming (1)January 22, 1992
41. U.S. Military (0)Before 1976