Death Penalty Use in the U.S. Declines but Raises Concerns Over Fairness and Innocence

The U.S. executed 25 individuals in 2024, with high-profile cases fueling public outrage over wrongful convictions and racial disparities.

The Death Penalty Information Center reported 25 executions and 26 new death sentences in 2024, marking the 10th consecutive year with fewer than 30 executions.
High-profile cases, such as those of Marcellus Williams and Richard Glossip, highlighted concerns about wrongful convictions and prosecutorial misconduct, drawing public protests and bipartisan political intervention.
Executions were concentrated in nine states, with Alabama, Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma accounting for 76% of the total, while three states resumed executions after over a decade-long hiatus.
Alabama became the first state to execute prisoners using nitrogen gas, a controversial method that has drawn criticism for its experimental nature and ethical implications.
Racial disparities persisted, with over half of new death sentences and nearly half of executions involving people of color, while most victims in death penalty cases were white.