The death penalty is legal in 30 states, including Texas.
As of July 2018, there were 2,738 individuals sitting on death row—228 of those are in Texas since October 2018.
Texas has executed more prisoners than any other state, tallying over 540 people. A total of 116 of those were in Harris County alone.
Legally, executions are performed by one of the following methods:
- Lethal injection (used by most states, including Texas)
- Electrocution via an electric chair (last used in Virginia in 2013)
- Firing squad (last used in Utah in 2010)
- Hanging (last used in Delaware in 1996)
Even though only 10 percent of those currently on death row were executed last year, the likelihood of being pardoned is still slim.
Since 1976, only 288 prisoners across America have been granted clemency.
Learn more statistics about the death penalty in Texas.