Historically, the variety of methods for imposing capital punishment seems almost endless. In the United States, our federal constitution forbids any form of execution that is cruel and unusual punishment, however, and this has led us to careful consideration about the practicalities the state must address when it kills someone in punishment for a crime that has been committed.
Currently, only five methods of execution have passed constitutional muster:
Firing Squad
Today, Utah still gives the prisoner the option of choosing the firing squad over lethal injection – if they made their choice before Utah law abolished the firing squad as an alternative method of execution. Idaho and Oklahoma also approve of the firing squad as a method of execution.
Electrocution
Nine states execute(d) by electrocution (electric chair). These are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Gas Chamber
Five states allow(ed) execution by gas chamber. These are Arizona, California, Maryland, Missouri, and Wyoming.
Hanging
Two states still approve(d) of execution by hanging. These are New Hampshire and Washington.
Lethal Injection
For thirty-five (35) states, plus the U.S. Military and the federal government, lethal injection is the approved method of execution. For those states listed above that approve different methods of execution, they all allow for lethal injection as an alternative.
Why Isn’t Every State Listed Here?
Not every state is listed here because not every state allows for capital punishment.