Marshall Project Analyzes 9,000 Death Sentences, Finds Fewer Than 1 in 5 Ended in Execution
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 22
Marshall Project Analyzes 9,000 Death Sentences, Finds Fewer Than 1 in 5 Ended in Execution
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 22
Summary
More than 9,000 death sentences issued since Gregg v. Georgia were reviewed by the Marshall Project, which found fewer than 20% ended in execution and more than a third were later overturned.
27 years was the average time spent on death row before execution last year, up from 12 years three decades ago, underscoring how appeals, retrials and political delays stretch cases for decades.
1 in 50 death-row cases since 1972 ended in exoneration, while more than 400 sentences were commuted and 23 states abolished capital punishment, adding to outcomes far different from the original sentence.
More than 2,000 people remain on US death rows, over a quarter for more than 30 years, as racial disparities, geographic arbitrariness and doubts about deterrence continue to cloud the punishment’s future.
With decades-long waits, is capital punishment delivering justice for victims or just prolonging their trauma?
After 202 exonerations, can a system that gets it wrong so often ever truly deliver justice?
2026 Report: The U.S. Death Penalty’s Collapse—Trends, Disparities, and the Future of Capital Punishment
Overview
As of mid-2026, the U.S. death penalty system is clearly in decline, with low execution rates and extensive delays. This decline is driven by increasing scrutiny over the fairness and effectiveness of capital punishment, as well as evolving legal, political, and public pressures. While some political figures have tried to promote the death penalty, their actions have mostly energized resistance and highlighted the system’s deep problems. Traditional leaders in executions, like Texas, have seen significant drops, showing that the system is struggling to stay relevant. Overall, the death penalty faces growing challenges and uncertainty about its future.