There have been 41 executions in 2006 as of September 5. This is a pace comparable to last year’s, when there were 60 executions. Eighty percent of the executions have been in the South, keeping with a pattern since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Almost half of all executions (20 of 41) have been in one state, Texas. Only about 20% of those executed had killed a black victim, even though about half of all murder victims in the U.S. are black. This underrepresentation of black-victim cases has also been a consistent pattern since the death penalty returned. No clemencies have been granted in 2006. Many executions have been put on hold due to challenges to the lethal injection process.

(DPIC, posted Sept. 5, 2006). See Executions, Arbitrariness, and Lethal Injections.