Death Penalty
Despite Lame-Duck Status, Federal Government Carries Out Three Executions in December
Last year marked a sea change in the administration of the federal death penalty. Before 2020, the federal government had only executed three prisoners since the punishment was reinstated on the federal level in 1988. But between July and December 2020, the federal government executed an unprecedented ten individuals. And, before President Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the administration carried out an additional three executions.