Number of States Carrying Out Death Sentences Hits 20-Year Low

Executions took place in five states and in only seven states were people sentenced to death, the lowest number of states to impose or carry out the death sentence in 20 years, according to the year-end report from the Death Penalty Information Center released Friday.

Texas and Florida accounted for 58% of the total 24 people executed. Florida had six in 2023, which is more than its had since 2014. The report noted that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who is running for president in 2024, has scheduled eight executions since taking office in 2019.

Though the number of executions ...