Executions are at a 20-year low and conservatives are increasingly voicing their opposition to capital punishment – so is the US about to scrap the death penalty?
It comes after three high-profile botched executions in 2014, where in one case an inmate writhed around in pain for 43 minutes after the lethal injection began. States have faced a shortage of drugs in recent years, mainly because European drug companies have refused to supply the chemicals used for lethal injections. Some states have been accused of using untested drugs and effectively experimenting with capital punishment.
America has also seen 154 death row inmates have their convictions overturned, with 11 people completely exonerated in the past 18 months.
Despite this, public opinion remains in favour of the death penalty.Research published in April showed support for the death penalty at 56 per cent, whilst 38 per cent of Americans actively oppose it.
But the trend since the mid-90s is clear: support for the death penalty is in decline. Full Story>>>