Find information about each U.S. state's stance on capital punishment and method of execution where applicable. As of May 2013, 18 states and the District of Columbia have abolished the death penalty.

NOTE: As of March 1, 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution bars capital punishment for crimes committed before the age of 18.

1. For those sentenced after 11/15/92, only lethal injection is authorized.

2. For those whose capital offense occurred on or after 7/4/83, only lethal injection is authorized.

3. For those sentenced on or after 3/31/98, only lethal injection is authorized.

4. For those sentenced on or after 3/25/94, only lethal injection is authorized.

5. Hanging is authorized only if lethal injection cannot be given.

6. Electrocution is authorized if lethal injection is ever held to be unconstitutional, and firing squad if both lethal injection and electrocution are held unconstitutional.

7. For those whose capital offense occurred after 12/31/98, only lethal injection is authorized.

8. Lethal gas is authorized if lethal injection is ever held to be unconstitutional.

9. For offenses under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the method is that of the state in which the conviction took place.

* Executions in these states are on hold as lethal injection as the method of execution is being challenged in courts.

Source: Capital Punishment U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Death Penalty Information Center, updated 2011.