Death Penalty Information Center

Pulling back the curtain on the death penalty for more than 35 years.

Data. Analysis. Context.

The death penalty is complicated,
but telling the truth is not.

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Created Sept 25

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Latest News

Costs October 20, 2025 DPI Podcast 12:01 The Death Penalty in Context: Maha Jweied of The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice Discusses Intersection of Business and the Legal System

Race October 16, 2025 Governor Newsom Signs Major Amendments to California’s Racial Justice Act into Law

Innocence October 15, 2025 Edward T. Blake, Pioneer of Using DNA to Prove Innocence, Dies at 80

Upcoming Executions October 14, 2025 Missouri Governor Denies Clemency for Lance Shockley Despite Broad Bipartisan Support for Commutation of His Death Sentence

Upcoming Executions October 9, 2025 Indiana’s Scheduled Third Execution After 15-year Pause Raises Cost and Secrecy Concerns

Executions October 8, 2025 Upcoming Executions Illustrate Persistent Themes and Concerns Around the Death Penalty

Official Misconduct October 7, 2025 New Evidence Revealed in “Dateline” Podcast Points to Judicial Misconduct in Robert Roberson’s Case Just Days Ahead of Execution

Youth October 6, 2025 Tennessee’s Execution of Christa Pike Would Make Her the First Woman to be Executed in the State in Over 200 Years

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Immature Minds in a “Maturing Society”: Roper v. Simmons at 20 Read Now

DPI Reports Read Now

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Upcoming Executions Read Now

State by State Read Now

Explore our databases

Innocence Database Since 1973, at least 201 people wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated.

Execution Database 1646 men and women have been executed in the United States since the 1970s

Death Penalty Census The Census currently lists more than 9930 sentences imposed between 1972 and January 1, 2025.

Explore the issues we report on

Recent Legislative Activity Read Now

Innocence Read Now

Methods of Execution Read Now

Costs

12:01 The Death Penalty in Context: Maha Jweied of The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice Discusses Intersection of Business and the Legal System

In October 2025’s episode of 12:01: The Death Penalty in Context, DPI managing director Anne Holsinger interviews Maha Jweied. Ms. Jweied, the CEO...

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Featured Research & Reports

Arbitrariness September 24, 2025 Mangione’s Counsel Challenge Constitutionality of Federal Death Penalty as Arbitrary

Religion September 22, 2025 Victims’ Families in Kirk and Berry Cases Cite Religious Reasons for Opposition to the Death Penalty

Secrecy September 8, 2025 DPI Analysis: Death Warrants Under a Spotlight

DPI Reports July 7, 2025 Mid-Year Review 2025: New Death Sentences Remain Low Amidst Increase in Executions

Intellectual Disability June 4, 2025 2025 Roundup of Death Penalty Related Legislation

In-Depth Reports April 30, 2025 Immature Minds in a "Maturing Society": Roper v. Simmons at 20

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