The “Espy File” is a database of executions in the United States and the earlier colonies from 1608 to 2002. This list of 15,269 executions was compiled by M. Watt Espy and John Ortiz Smykla, and was made available through the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. Note: This is the latest version of the Espy File. Previously, this web page contained “The Espy File: 1608-1987.”

The files below feature important information about each execution listed in the Espy File, such as the name, age and race of each individual executed, the date of execution, and the method of execution used, but omit some information, such as county of execution and the occupation of the executed. To download the complete Espy File, visit the ICPSR website at www.icpsr.umich.edu/NACJD (click “download data” and use ICPSR # 8451). Some information in the Espy File differs slightly from DPIC information since 1976, with respect to dates of execution and race of the inmate, but not the names, place or method of execution. In these instances, DPIC has verified through Department of Corrections’ websites and news accounts that the information on DPIC pages is correct. For information on more recent executions, see DPIC’s Information on Executions in the U.S.

Please note that the Espy File is an incomplete work, and that other studies featured on this website may include executions not listed in the Espy File.

DPIC’s display of the Espy File data has been sorted in three different ways for convenience in researching: Executions in Chronological Order, Executions in Alphabetical Order by the last name of the defendant, and Executions in Geographical Order, by the state in which the execution was carried out. In all of these files, the location given is not necessarily the jurisdiction responsible for the execution. For example, an execution may have occurred in California but under federal jurisdiction. The location would be listed as CA. Consult the original Espy File database for complete information.

The files are in pdf form and may be read with the free program Adobe Reader.

This information is also available in Excel format.