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The death penalty in the United States is almost exclusively reserved for the crime of first-degree murder (with aggravating circumstances in most states). Circumstances that are considered aggravating vary by state.
The US Supreme Court's recent decision in Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 US ___ (2008) has outlawed capital punishment for non-lethal rape of a child as a violation of the 8th Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. This overturned laws in six states, as well as a 2006 amendment to military code, that allowed capital punishment of sex crimes against children.
At present, the only crimes that may carry a capital sentence are murder and crimes against the state (e.g., espionage, treason)
Alabama: Intentional murder with 18 aggravating factors
Arizona: First-degree murder accompanied by at least 1 of 14 aggravating factors
Arkansas: Capital murder with a finding of at least 1 of 10 aggravating circumstances, as of 7/31/2007, includes murder committed in the course of: robbery, aggravated robbery, residential burglary, or commercial burglary; treason.
California: First-degree murder with special circumstances; treason; perjury causing execution.
Colorado: First-degree murder with at least 1 of 17 aggravating factors; first-degree kidnapping resulting in death; treason
Connecticut: Capital murder with with aggravating factors.
Delaware: First-degree murder with at least 1 aggravating circumstances.
Florida: First-degree murder; felony murder
Georgia: Murder; kidnapping with bodily injury or ransom when the victim dies; treason.
Idaho: First-degree murder with aggravating factors; aggravated kidnapping; perjury resulting in death.
Illinois: First-degree murder with 1 of 21 aggravating circumstances; treason.
Indiana: Murder with 1 of 16 aggravating circumstances.
Kansas: Capital murder with 1 of 8 aggravating circumstances.
Kentucky: Murder with aggravating factors; kidnapping with aggravating factors.
Louisiana: First-degree murder; treason.
Maryland: First-degree murder, either premeditated or during the commission of a felony, provided that certain death eligibility requirements are satisfied.
Mississippi: Capital murder; treason.
Missouri: First-degree murder; treason.
Montana: Capital murder with 1 of 9 aggravating circumstances.
Nebraska: First-degree murder with at least one aggravating circumstance.
Nevada: First-degree murder with at least 1 of 15 aggravating circumstances.
New Hampshire: Six categories of capital murder.
North Carolina: First-degree murder.
Ohio: Aggravated murder with at least 1 of 10 aggravating circumstances.
Oklahoma: First-degree murder in conjunction with a finding of at least 1 of 8 aggravating circumstances.
Oregon: Murder with unspecified number of 12 aggravating factors.
Pennsylvania: First-degree murder with 18 aggravating circumstances.
South Carolina: Murder with 1 of 12 aggravating circumstances.
South Dakota: First-degree murder with 1 of 10 aggravating circumstances.
Tennessee: First-degree murder with 1 of 20 aggravating circumstances.
Texas: Criminal homicide with 1 of 9 aggravating circumstances.
Utah: Murder with 1 of 17 aggravating factors.
Virginia: First-degree murder with 1 of 13 aggravating circumstances.
Washington: First-degree murder with unspecified number of aggravating factors; treason.
Wyoming: First-degree murder, including murder during the commission of sexual abuse of a minor.
FEDERAL: First-degree murder; Espionage; Treason
(Updated November 4, 2009)
Mostly just murder.
What else can I help you with?
What crimes will guarantee you the death penalty?
In the US jurisdictions which still have the death penalty, you are not "guaranteed" the death penalty. There are several 'capital crimes' cited among those that migh qualify BUT,currently usually only murder (the more heinous or coldblooded it is) will be the one act that would set in motion such a recommendation.
What crimes are capital crimes?
Any crimes subject to the death penalty. In the US, they have to involve murder (although treason is still listed as a capital crime, it has not been tested).
How old do you have to be to get the death penalty in Mississippi?
Per the US Supreme Court decision in Roper v. Simmons,543 US 551 (2005), no one can be given the death penalty for crimes committed while under the age of 18, even if the person was tried as an adult.Mississippi allows the death penalty on capital crimes committed by offenders over the age of 18.
Is the death penalty a law?
The "death penalty," also known as capital punishment, is not a law but a consequence for committing specific, serious crimes such as murder, treason, etc.Not all countries use capital punishment.
Do terrorists get a death penalty?
If caught in the US and tried for treason, yes they get the death penalty because of the US constitution
How does the death penalty affect the crime rate in the US?
All criminal sanctions reduce crime rates. Anyone that doubts that, just ask them what would happen if we did away with all criminal sanctions for all crimes. Therefore, yes, the death penalty deters, but it may not show up in crime rates. Very few crimes are death penalty eligible and executions are even more rare. All criminal sanctions, including the death penalty, deter some. Thereofe, there will be fewer crimes and fewer murders because we have criminal sanctions, than if we didn't have those sanctions. Even if it doesn't show up in year to year crime rate, there will be NET fewer crimes, than if we had no sanctions. Dudley Sharp
How do you feel about the death penalty in the past?
The death penalty was extremely unfair for some people, but for the rest of us it was justice........ In the states the death penalty is still used in 37 states and by the Federal Government and the US Military.
Is the death penalty executed in front of people?
In the US, all death penalty sentences are carried out with wtnesses present.
Does Wisconsin have a death penalty?
No. In fact, Wisconsin was the first state in the US to abolish the death penalty, back in 1853.
How is the death penalty protected?
If by "protected" it is meant what options does the person who is sentenced to death have, all such sentencing is immediately subject to appeal. In the US all convicted persons who receive the death sentence can file an appeal as many times as is permitted by the highest state appellate court and/or the US Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court has also ruled that any law that automatically imposes the death penalty is unconstitutional. In the US voters decide whether or not to allow capital punishment. The federal government institutes the death penalty when specified crimes such as the killing of a federal law enforcement officer are committed.
Can a sixteen year old get the death penalty?
In the US, no. The Supreme Court found that minors could not be sentenced to the death penalty.
How many states were there when the death penalty started?
There were the original 13 states, although the death penalty was established in the US long before the US was a separate nation.
