State of the Death Penalty in the U.S.

In 2023, the death penalty landscape in the United States remained complex and divided, as highlighted by DPF Board Member Ed Redlich. Some states, like Texas and Florida, continue to actively carry out executions, while others, including California and Pennsylvania, have moratoriums in place. A growing number of states, such as Virginia and Colorado, have abolished the death penalty altogether. The overall trend shows a decline in executions and death sentences, reflecting shifting public opinion and increasing concerns about wrongful convictions and racial bias. But our work is far from over.