Capital Punishment

Code of Hammurabi

1700 BCE

The first death penalty laws were stated in The Code of Hammurabi from ancient Babylonia. It included 25 different crimes that were punishable by death.

States rebel agents public executions.

Jan 1, 1833

Starting in 1833 people were starting to fight at public executions because they believed that it was to cruel. From 1833-1849 fifteen states were doing executions in the prisons where no one could watch and it lead to much less violence.

Michigan get rid of Capital Punishment

Jan 1, 1846

Except of treason in Michigan passed a law that got rid of all capital punishment and making they the first state to do so.

Rhode Island outlaws Capital Punishment

Jan 1, 1852

Although Michigan was the first state to get rid of the death penalty (more or less) Rhode island was the first to fully abolish it. Capital punishment was now illegal in Rhode Island no matter what crime has been done including treason.

First electrocution

Aug 6, 1890

The first ever execution done by electric chair was done in New York to William Kemmler making people think it was the best way to execute people.

Nevada has first gas chamber

Feb 8, 1924

Nevada felt that it was more human to execute with lethal gas in a gas chamber so the first one was in Carson City Nevada.

First leathal ingection

Dec 7, 1982

Texas becomes the first state to use lethal injection for execution using 3 different drugs to kill the person. It became a popular way to execute people and is still used today.

Shouldn't have died

Nov 1, 1987

A researcher found out that over 350 people that were executed or on death row from 1900-1985 were really later found to be innocent and didn't deserve to die at all.

No juniors

Jun 29, 1988

The Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to execute juniors also known as anybody under 16. No matter what state they are in or what crime they comit

First to leave

Jun 28, 1993

Kirk Bloodsworth was on death row and had a life sentence for murder. However a DNA test later proved that it was not him and he was innocent. He was then released and was the first ever to be on death row am then released back in to the world because they were innocent.

Last hanging

Jan 25, 1996

In Delaware the last ever execution by hanging so far happened and has no happened since.

under 18

Mar 1, 2005

in the Roper v Simons case it was ruled that no one under 18 when the crime was committed was unconstitutional. This over turned a previous case saying no one under 16.