DPIC Report says US Juries Increasingly Rejecting Death Penalty

From [HERE] The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) released its annual report Monday, finding that, while the number of executions in the US increased last year, the number of new death sentences decreased. The following is an overview of the report’s key findings.

Death Sentences Decline, Executions Rise

The report drew a contrast between new death sentences and number of executions, with the former totaling 22 and the latter 48. The executive director of the DPIC, Robin Maher, commented that this suggests “new death sentences are becoming vanishingly rare.”

Executions Concentrated in a Few States

Four states—Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas—imposed the majority of death penalty sentences (72 percent). Florida enacted by far the most, increasing from one execution in 2024 to 19 in 2025, which made up over a third of executions overall.

The death penalty is legal in 27 states in total.

Public Opinion Increasingly Against the Death Penalty

Polling demonstrates that support for the death penalty is at an all-time low, with 52 percent being in favor. This figure is lower amongst those under 55. A shift in public opinion is also suggested by the actions of capital juries, with 56 percent proposing a life sentence over a death sentence when given the choice (from a study of over 50 juries.) [MORE]