The state of the death penalty 2012

Executions are down 16 percent this year compared to the same time last year. As of October 13, 2012 there have been 31 executions nationwide. At this time last year there were 37 executions, according to The Death Penalty Information Center.

In 2011 there were a total of 43 executions. There are 12 executions scheduled before the end of the 2012—that would equal the total number of executions for 2011. The likelihood that all 12 pending executions would be carried out is miniscule. For instances, one pending execution is in Pennsylvania which hasn’t carried out an involuntary execution in 50 years.

The 31 executions so far in 2012 have been carried out in eight states—Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, Arizona, Ohio, Delaware and Idaho. Fourteen different states carried out executions in 2011.

The average amount of time spent on death row prior to execution this year in 13.4 years. The average age at the time of execution among those executed in 2012 is 47.

The oldest person executed was 65-year-old Robert Waterhouse of Florida. The youngest was 28-year-old Shannon Johnson of Delaware. Johnson also spent the shortest time on death row six years. Michael Selsor of Oklahoma spent the longest, 36 years.

The next execution is scheduled for Anthony Haynes on October 18 in Texas.

To read more: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/upcoming-executions