In this article, we will talk about 15 US states that have the death penalty. The death penalty has seen ups and downs in these 15 US states over the past four decades since the Supreme Court briefly overturned and then reinstated it, known as the “modern era of the nation’s death penalty. Talking about the history of the death penalty, at a peak for sentencing in 1996 of 315 and for executions in 1999 of 98, during the mid-1990s, hundreds of fresh death sentences were being handed out year, along with the execution of dozens of prisoners. Even if the reappearance was astounding in terms of sheer numbers, it was all the more amazing considering what became of the death sentence across the developed West as per the reports in bureau of justice.
According to the most recent data available, 27 states in the US still have the death penalty in place, which is applied as a last resort for the most severe crimes. These states, which are geographically scattered around the country, together cover a population of more than 180 million, demonstrating the significant influence that the death penalty has in this nation. In the year 2022, there were total of 18 executions in United States which was the death penalty for murder. There were 2 executions reported in both Midwest and Missouri, total 13 executions took place in south including 2 in Alabama, 1 in Mississippi, 5 in Oklahoma, 5 in Texas and in West there were 3 executions in California only.
States with the Death Penalty
The way the death sentence is applied in the 15 US states that have the death penalty has historically been impacted by race which is also reported by Steiker and M. Steiker. Because slave owners required further reasons to keep their already imprisoned population in subservience, the death penalty played a crucial role in preserving the slave economy in the South in several states. Slaves found guilty of killing their masters or organizing a rebellion were subject to other, more ruthless methods of death.
Southern states had clear racial discrimination in their capital laws, making significantly more offences punishable by death when the victim was a white person and the culprit was black (slave or free). While murder accounted for the great majority of white executions in the colonial South, black executions also happened often for rape, slave insurrection, attempted murder, burglary, and arson. The state paid compensation to owners of executed slaves to deter them from avoiding the severe, racially biased criminal court system for their slaves.
Recent Decline in Capital Punishment/Execution
On the other end of the spectrum, a shift in cultural views and policy concerns is indicated by the actions taken by 23 states to either eliminate or place a moratorium on the death sentence. This translates to a total population of more than 150 million people, which represents a sizeable chunk of the American population living in areas that have opted not to apply or to temporarily defer the implementation of the worst possible punishment. According to opinion polls, public support for the death sentence has likewise sharply decreased, falling from over 75% in the mid-1990s to around 56% in the most recent Gallup inspections.
Methodology
This article lists the 15 US states that have the death penalty. To make the list we have collected data on the different metrics such as number of violent crime rates, population of the state and imprisonment rate per 100000 people. The wide category of “violent crime” includes murder, serious assault, rape, and robbery. To compile this list this article consulted the reports by crime rate by state 2023 and bureau of justice statistics and population of every state that has the death penalty in 2023. We also took information from our own resources.
Photo by Damir Spanic on Unsplash
This article ranked the list of states in descending order of the total number of violent crime rates.
15 US states that have the Death Penalty
15- Georgia
- Violent crime rate: 400.09 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 426 adults per 100,000
- Population: 11037723
At 400.09 occurrences per 100,000, Georgia’s violent crime rate is nearly identical to the equivalent national average which is 398.5 per 100000 people. There are some risky areas throughout the state, but overall it’s not very dangerous. Georgia has particular difficulties since it is a large and economically diversified state. While rural locations may have distinct worries about property crimes, urban centers may struggle with problems like gang involvement.
14- Kansas
- Violent crime rate: 425.05 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 290 adults per 100,000
- Population: 2936378
In 2023, Kansas is one of the 15 US states that have the death penalty, have a higher rate of violent crimes per 100,000 residents (425.05) than the national rate of 398.5 per 100,000. The concentration of crimes in metropolitan areas contributed significantly to Kansas’s high crime rate. Kansas, a state with a mix of rural and urban areas, has varying rates of violent crime. Large cities like Kansas City and Wichita could have different rates than smaller towns.
13- California
- Violent crime rate: 442.05 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 261 adults per 100,000
- Population: 3891693
More violent crimes than any other state in 15 US states that have the death penalty were perpetrated in California in 2023, with occurrences of rape, robbery, murder, and aggravated assault. Despite being the most populated state, California nevertheless has a disproportionately high rate of violent crime. Though just 12% of all Americans live in the state, 14% of all violent crimes occur there. California has certain difficulties, such as homelessness problems, which may influence particular kinds of criminal activity.
The state has a lower imprisonment rate than most states, while having a higher proportion of severe offences. Compared to the average per 100,000 state citizens aged 18 and over across all states, there are only 261 adults in California’s state.
12- Texas
- Violent crime rate: 446.46 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 439 adults per 100,000
- Population: 30500280
Given its size and population, Texas has seen fluctuations in its rate of violent crime. Large cities, such as Dallas and Houston, frequently record greater rates than smaller towns. 15 US states that have the death penalty also includes Texas.
According to the FBI UCR, Texas had a violent crime rate of 446.46 events per 100,000 persons as of 2023.
11- Alabama
- Violent crime rate: 453.56 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 491 adults per 100,000
- Population: 5098746
With 453.56 violent crime events per 100,000 people. Alabama is not an anomaly in the 15 US states that have the death penalty, where crime rates are often higher in impoverished communities. The state’s 16.8% poverty rate is much higher than the 13.1% national average and ranks eighth in the nation. This state has executed only two prisoners in the year 2023.
The state has a particularly high concentration of murder and aggravated assault cases.
10- Nevada
- Violent crime rate: 460.29 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 318 adults per 100,000
- Population: 3209142
In Nevada, there were fewer violent crimes in 2023 than there were in previous years. Additionally, the state reported nearly national-leading drops in robbery and homicide, at 20.2% and 24.1%, respectively. The tourist sector, especially in Las Vegas, presents a unique set of problems with regard to crime. It is one of the 15 US states that have the death penalty
9- Oklahoma
- Violent crime rate: 458.58 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 553 adults per 100,000
- Population: 4048375
15 US states that have the death penalty also includes Oklahoma. In 2023, there were 18,255 violent crimes in Oklahoma, up 2.2% from the year before. The various areas of Oklahoma have distinct rates of crime. Certain crimes may be more common in urban regions than in rural ones, such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Property crimes, violent crimes, and drug-related occurrences are common forms of crimes.
High crime rates are frequently correlated with high jail populations. Oklahoma has the incarceration rate, with 553 adults behind bars for every 100,000 people in the state who are 18 or older.
8- Montana
- Violent crime rate: 469.84 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 378 adults per 100,000
- Population: 1139507
Montana is the eighth states in 15 US states that have the death penalty in 2023. It has the total population of 1139507 with the incarceration rate of 378 per 100000 adults. Montana’s vast geographic expanse and scarce population mean that it faces particular difficulties. Various regions may experience various problems with drug-related crimes, domestic violence, and property crimes.
7- Arizona
- Violent crime rate: 484.81 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 455 adults per 100,000
- Population: 7453517
Arizona had a higher rate of violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2023 than the national average. Arizona has experienced issues with border security and related crimes because of its closeness to the Mexican border. Problems like drug trafficking and unauthorized immigration have contributed to the state’s overall criminal environment. Arizona has a sizable jail population, as is typical in states with high crime rates. Which makes it one of the 15 US states that have the death penalty
6- South Dakota
- Violent crime rate: 501.39 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 363 adults per 100,000
- Population: 923484
The violent crime rate in South Dakota is 501.39 events per 100,000 people. In general, South Dakota has lower crime rates than states with denser populations. Urban and rural places can have different crime rates, nevertheless. While some crimes may be more common in urban areas than elsewhere, overall crime rates are often lower than the national average. It is also one of the 15 US states that have the death penalty and it is also famous for its 2019 execution of Charles Rhine.
5- South Carolina
- Violent crime rate: 530.68 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 293 adults per 100,000
- Population: 53702002
Among the ten most hazardous states in the 15 US states that have the death penalty is South Carolina, one of five states in the South. In 2023, the state saw 530.68 per 100,000 residents. The state has a particularly high concentration of murder and aggravated assault cases. With a long history, South Carolina has witnessed fluctuations in its crime rate. As part of larger measures for crime prevention, the state has put programmed in place to address issues of poverty, education, and community development.
4- Missouri
- Violent crime rate: 542.71 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 379 adults per 100,000
- Population: 6186091
Only 4 states in the 15 US states that have the death penalty have a higher rate of violent crime than 500 occurrences per 100,000 residents. Missouri is one of those states. Major cities in Missouri tend to have higher rates of crime. For instance, St. Louis Particularly has drawn criticism for having high rates of crime, particularly violent crimes. Urban crime can be caused by a variety of factors, such as socioeconomic dynamics, community dynamics, and law enforcement tactics.
3- Louisiana
- Violent crime rate: 639.44 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 573 adults per 100,000
- Population: 4553384
In 2023, Louisiana had 639.44 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the third most violent state in 15 US states that have the death penalty. Furthermore, compared to other states, Louisiana imprisons a higher percentage of its citizens. Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate of any state, with 573 individuals behind bars in state and federal facilities for every 100,000 adults in the state who are 18 years of age or older.
Higher crime rates are typically seen in areas with lower incomes and less economic opportunities. Compared to 13.1% of Americans, 18.6% of Louisianans live below the poverty level.
2- Arkansas
- Violent crime rate: 671.93 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 556 adults per 100,000
- Population: 3063152
Arkansas is one of the five most dangerous states in the 15 US states that have the death penalty. In 2023, the state had 671.93 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, which was much more than the nationwide.
Arkansas has one of the highest rates of firearm-related deaths, according to the CDC at the National Centre for Health Statistics. High concentrations of violence in certain cities contribute to the state’s high crime rates. The violent crime rates in the Pine Bluff and Little Rock metropolitan regions are significantly higher than the national average, coming in at 1,098 and 939 occurrences per 100,000 persons, respectively.
1- Tennessee
- Violent crime rate: 672.70 per 100,000 people
- Imprisonment rate: 308 adults per 100,000
- Population: 7134327
Tennessee has the highest violent crime rate in the US states that have the death penalty. In 2023, Tennessee recorded 46,328 violent offences, more than twice as many as Virginia, a state with almost 1.5 million more residents than Tennessee. It is on our list of 15 US states that have the death penalty
The rise in property-related crimes in Memphis and Shelby County was attributed to the number of reported burglaries, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). While the county as a whole had a rise of around 12 percent, Memphis saw an increase of 23 percent. Carjacking, or the alleged theft of motor vehicles, rose by over 13% in Memphis and 11% in Shelby County. Also, Tennessee stands alone as the sole state to utilize electrocution, while all other states opt for lethal injection.
Conclusion
There are 15 US states that still have the death penalty in place, while the rest of the states have either abolished it or currently do not have it.
In the United States, the death penalty is a controversial issue, with some states imposing a death sentence for murder, while others have abolished it. There have been instances where the death penalty was reinstated, as well as cases where a court declared a state’s death penalty statute as unconstitutional. Some states have a moratorium on the death penalty, and some have even voted to abolish it.