Re-Examining the Death Penalty
 

Since 1976, 1,246 prisoners have been executed in the United States, and approximately 3,267 inmates remain on death row nationwide. The death penalty currently is authorized in 34 states, and the U.S. government and U.S. military also use it. Although the constitutionality of capital punishment has changed in recent years, states continue to debate the fairness, reliability and cost of implementing the death penalty,   In the past four years, three states have abolished the death penalty, while others continue to consider its repeal or reform.