The death penalty is currently permitted in 24 to 27 U.S. states, with some variation due to moratoriums and changes. These states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Additionally, some states like California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Ohio have moratoriums in place, meaning executions are paused even though the death penalty is legally allowed. States that have abolished the death penalty altogether number 23, including states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Virginia (abolished in 2021). Summary of states with death penalty permission (some with moratoriums):
- Alabama
- Arizona (moratorium)
- Arkansas
- California (moratorium)
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Ohio (moratorium)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (moratorium)
- Pennsylvania (moratorium)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (moratorium)
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
Many of these states actively use the death penalty, while others rarely carry out executions and may have executive-ordered pauses or moratoriums. Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma are among the most active in executions. This information reflects the legal and enforcement situation of the death penalty in 2025 across the United States.
