Truthout
Death Penalty

Virginia Governor Signs Bill Abolishing Death Penalty in the State
“We can’t give out the ultimate punishment without being 100 percent sure that we’re right,” Gov. Ralph Northam said.

Virginia Poised to Become First State in the South to Abolish the Death Penalty
Since 1976, Virginia has executed 113 individuals, second only to Texas.

If Biden Wants to End Death Penalty, He Must Also End Death by Incarceration
More people are serving death-by-incarceration sentences today than the total number of people in prison in the 1970s.

Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley Lead Call for Biden to Oppose Death Penalty
Representatives Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley are leading an effort urging President Biden to end capital punishment.

Upon His Inauguration, Biden Should Commute All Federal Death Sentences
In the immediate term, Biden can place a moratorium on federal executions for at least the next decade.

Trump and Barr Use Last Days to Execute the Most Federal Prisoners Since WWII
The Trump administration has trampled over an array of barriers, both legal and practical, according to court records.

Trump Pardons Stone and Manafort as DOJ Proceeds With Executions
President Donald Trump late Wednesday issued another wave of pardons for his wealthy political and personal allies.

The Trump Administration Has Gone on an Underreported Execution Spree
Under Trump, the U.S. has restarted federal executions and reinstated the use of the electric chair and firing squads.

Trump Moves to Expand Ways to Kill Prisoners — Including Firing Squads
This comes as the Trump administration has already executed eight people in the past five months.

The DOJ Has No Reason to Execute the Federally Incarcerated During a Pandemic
The federal government is now killing prisoners after a 17-year hiatus on federal executions.