April 21, 2023 | Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill, SB 450, which removes jury unanimity requirements in the sentencing phase of capital trials. This new law, which is immediately active, requires…
March 22, 2023 | The Idaho state legislature has passed a bill that would allow the state to execute individuals by firing squad if lethal injection drugs are unavailable. The bill is headed to Gov….
February 17, 2023 | In July 2022, Oklahoma set an aggressive schedule to execute 25 men over the course of two years — a shocking rate of one execution each month. After four of those executions…
December 19, 2022 | The Vatican announced last week that Pope Francis has personally invited heads of state to grant clemency to prisoners this Christmas season. Advocates say the Holy Father’s appeal presents a keen opportunity for…
December 16, 2022 | A new report released today by the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) describes 2022 as “the year of botched executions.” But this year-end report does not issue only bad news; 2022 saw…
December 13, 2022 | Outgoing Oregon Governor Kate Brown has commuted the sentences of all 17 individuals on the state’s death row. Governor Brown, who has granted more commutations or pardons than all of Oregon’s governors…
UPDATE Dec. 15, 2022 | A historic 125 nations voted “yes” on the bi-annual United Nations resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the death penalty. The U.S. maintained its historical “no” vote, despite being…
Nov. 22, 2022 | All Alabama executions have been put on hold until a thorough review can be conducted regarding the state’s lethal injection protocol. Governor Kay Ivey issued this order following the failed execution…
This November, Pope Francis made a historic papal visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. During his first formal address to the country, the Holy Father condemned Bahrain’s use of the death penalty, which has increased…
UPDATE Nov. 29, 2022 | Five the six executions scheduled for November 2022 were carried out: Tracy Beatty in Texas on Nov. 9; Murray Hooper in Arizona on Nov. 16; Stephen Barbee in Texas on…
October 13, 2022 | Amid a 25-person execution spree in Oklahoma, a new report released by the Death Penalty Information Center paints a troubling picture of the state’s capital punishment system. Deeply Rooted: How Racial…