Three men will be executed on the same day as death penalties rise in US
Three men convicted of murder are due to be executed in Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma on the same day, an event not seen in the United States for 16 years. The planned executions highlight a sharp recent increase in the use of capital punishment, despite evidence that juries and the wider public have become more cautious about death sentences.
The US carried out 47 executions in 11 states in 2025, up from 25 in 2024 and more than four times the 2021 total; 19 occurred in Florida, while 12 of 19 executions so far in 2026 have also been there. President Donald Trump has restored federal support for the death penalty and expanded execution protocols, but experts say Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been the main driver, following legal changes that reduced the number of jurors needed to recommend a death sentence from 12 to eight.
- Three US executions are scheduled for the same day.
- Executions have risen sharply since 2021.
- Florida accounts for a large share of the increase.
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The death penalty, also called capital punishment, allows courts in some US states and the federal system to sentence people convicted of certain murders to execution. Its use varies widely because each state has its own laws, courts and methods of carrying out sentences.
People sentenced to death can appeal against their conviction or sentence for many years, and governors or the president may in some cases grant clemency. Juries usually play a central role in deciding whether a murder case should result in a death sentence.
Support for capital punishment has shifted over time, with some states ending it while others retain it and change the rules governing death sentences. Changes to jury requirements and execution procedures can affect how often prosecutors seek, courts impose and states carry out death penalties.
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The case for
Supporters of the executions argue that capital punishment remains a lawful and proportionate response to the most serious murders, particularly where guilt has been established after extensive judicial process and appeals. They contend that elected governments may reasonably retain it to express society’s condemnation, deliver justice for victims’ families and deter at least some potential offenders; reforms to sentencing rules can be seen as allowing juries to reach decisions without a single juror preventing a verdict supported by a substantial majority.
The case against
Opponents argue that an increase in executions is troubling when public opinion and juries appear more reluctant to impose death sentences, suggesting the policy may be moving faster than public consent. They stress that no criminal justice system can eliminate the risk of wrongful conviction, that death is irreversible, and that reducing unanimity requirements weakens a vital safeguard for a punishment of exceptional severity. They also question whether executions deter crime more effectively than life imprisonment and argue that resources should focus on prevention, victim support and fair, reliable justice.