Methods of Execution in the U.S.
This table lists execution methods for all states that have the death penalty. Lethal injection is the method of execution common to every death penalty state, with the exception of Nebraska. Some states have retained secondary execution methods in addition to lethal injection.
You can also find information about executions by year, state, or view the current schedule of executions in the U.S.
| Lethal Injection | Electrocution | Lethal Gas | Hanging | Firing Squad |
| Alabama * Arizona a Arkansas b California * Colorado Connecticut Delaware c Florida * Georgia Idaho Illinoisj Indiana Kansas Kentucky k Louisiana Maryland e Mississippi f Missouri * Montana Nebraska l Nevada New Hampshire g New Mexico North Carolina Ohio m Oklahoma h Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina * South Dakota n Tennessee d Texas Utah* U.S. Military U.S. Government Virginia * Washington * Wyomingi |
Alabama * Arkansas b Florida * Illinois j Kentucky k Oklahoma h South Carolina * Tennessee d Virginia * |
Arizona a California * Maryland e Mississippi f Missouri * Wyoming i |
Delaware c New Hampshire g Washington * |
Oklahoma h Utah * |
Note: Federal prisoners are executed by lethal injection, pursuant to 28 CFR, part 26. However, for offenses under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the method is that of the state in which the conviction took place, pursuant to 18 USC 3596.
* Authorizes two (2) methods of execution.
aAuthorizes lethal injection for those sentenced before 11/23/92; those sentenced before that date may choose lethal injection or lethal gas.
bAuthorizes lethal injection for offenses committed on or after after 7/4/83; those who committed a crime before that date may choose lethal injection or electrocution.
cAuthorizes lethal injection for offenses after 6/13/86; those who committed offenses before that date may choose lethal injection or hanging.
dAuthorizes lethal injection for those sentenced after 12/31/98; those sentenced before that date may choose lethal injection or electrocution.
e Authorizes lethal injection for all inmates as of 3/25/94. One inmate, convicted before that date, has chosen lethal gas.
f Authorizes lethal injection for those convicted after 7/1/84 and lethal gas for those convicted earlier.
gAuthorizes hanging only if lethal injection cannot be given.
h Authorizes electrocution if lethal injection is ever held unconstitutional and firing squad if both lethal injection and electrocution are held unconstitutional.
i Authorizes lethal gas if lethal injection is ever held unconstitutional.
j Authorizes lethal injection. If lethal injection is ever held unconstitutional, then electrocution is authorized.
k Authorizes lethal injection for those sentenced after 3/31/98; those sentenced before that date may choose lethal injection or electrocution.
l Electric chair declared unconstitutional by Nebraska Supreme Court in February 2008. Replaced by lethal injection in 2009.
m Authorizes lethal injection. If lethal injection is considered unconstitutional, then "any different manner of execution prescribed by law."
n Authorizes lethal injection. If sentenced prior to July 1, 2007, then the prisoner may choose lethal injection or "the manner provided by South Dakota law at the time of the person's conviction or sentence."
