How widely used is the death penalty in the US?

A woman in Tennessee became the latest high-profile case to raise questions about the effectiveness of lethal injection executions after surviving two attempts, reigniting debates over the death penalty’s reliability and ethics. While capital punishment remains legal in many U.S. states, its use has fluctuated sharply in recent years, with some jurisdictions imposing moratoriums or abolishing it entirely. Legal challenges and botched executions have further complicated its application, prompting discussions about whether the method meets constitutional standards. The case underscores broader tensions between states’ rights to enforce the death penalty and growing national skepticism over its fairness and execution practices.

The death penalty is back in the news after Christa Pike survived two lethal injection attempts in Tennessee - but how widely used is it in the US?