Florida is leading the nation in executions this year, poised to set new modern-day records as it is scheduled to carry out another execution this week. This forthcoming execution marks the state’s ninth of the year, surpassing its previous record of eight executions established in 2014.
Earlier this month, Florida matched its former record when Michael Bernard Bell, a convicted double murderer connected to a 1993 incident outside a Jacksonville bar, received a lethal injection on July 15.
The state’s execution schedule remains busy with three more executions lined up. Edward J. Zakrzewski is set to be executed on July 31, followed by Kayle Barrington Bates in mid-August and Curtis Windom later in August.
Florida’s current pace comes at a time when U.S. executions overall are experiencing an uptick this year. By mid-2025, a total of 26 individuals have been executed across the country, with another 11 executions planned, according to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPI).
In 2024, the total number of executions nationwide was 25, although experts note that the figures for capital punishment have largely remained low in recent years. While the current increase in executions garners ample media attention, Robin Maher, the executive director of DPI, remarked that they represent outdated public sentiment.
“They represent levels of support that are usually decades out of date,” Maher stated, elaborating that many inmates on death row were sentenced years, sometimes decades, ago when support for the death penalty was significantly higher and the prosecution policies divergent.
Experts believe the more relevant measure of contemporary public sentiment toward the death penalty lies in the issuance of new death sentences. As states navigate the evolving landscape of capital punishment, the actions of individual states vary widely.
In light of President Donald Trump’s promises to restore the death penalty at a national level, the specifics surrounding how states enforce capital punishment are determined by each state’s laws. As Amber Widgery from the National Conference of State Legislatures explained, the procedural aspects of these cases are governed by state and federal laws, separate from federal executive orders.
Among the 23 states and Washington, D.C., which have outright abolished the death penalty, Delaware has initiated constitutional changes to permanently prohibit capital punishment. This follows the state abolishing its death penalty in September after the state’s Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional.
At present, 27 states maintain the death penalty, although governors in California, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Ohio have temporarily put a hold on executions.
Several states are working on legislation to expand the list of capital offenses. Recently, Texas passed a bill to increase penalties for the attempted capital murder of law enforcement officers, while states including Ohio, Illinois, and New York are considering similar legislation to classify certain murders involving first responders as capital offenses.
Amidst the shifting landscape of public opinion and legislative action, two states have concentrated on the mental competency of individuals facing execution. Georgia recently enacted a law reducing the standard for proving intellectual disabilities in death penalty cases, aiming to align with protections present in 26 other states that allow capital punishment. Similarly, Oklahoma updated its protocols for assessing mental competency in death penalty cases.
With at least 20 new pieces of legislation regarding capital punishment passed in various state legislatures this year, this activity is viewed as both a reflection of ongoing debates about the death penalty and an indication that the topic is gaining traction this year, according to Widgery.
Despite a national rise in executions, Maher noted that a majority—around 61%—have occurred in just three states: Florida, Texas, and South Carolina. This concentration illustrates just how limited the application of the death penalty is, with significant geographic disparity across the country.
The long-term trend shows a marked decline in public support for capital punishment since the mid-1990s. A Gallup poll conducted in November revealed support for the death penalty at a five-decade low of 53%. This decline is notably influenced by younger generations, such as millennials and Gen Z, who are less inclined to endorse the death penalty.
The total number of new death sentences has drastically decreased since 1996, which saw a peak of 316 death sentences. In 2024, only 26 new sentences were issued, while reports suggest a slower pace in 2025, with just 10 individuals in six states sentenced to death by the mid-year mark.
This slowdown is attributed to juries’ heightened understanding of issues relating to long-term trauma, mental health, and the effectiveness of the death penalty in ensuring community safety, according to Maher.
Among those actively opposing the death penalty is Brent Schneider, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran, who attended his first vigil against execution this year. Dressed in his Army uniform, Schneider joined a group of opponents outside the Florida State Prison in Raiford as Jeffrey Hutchinson was about to be executed. Schneider’s intention was to draw attention to Hutchinson’s military background and the effects of war.
Hutchinson, a 62-year-old veteran, was convicted for the 1998 murder of his girlfriend and her three children. Schneider, alongside other veterans, argued that Hutchinson’s experiences, including exposure to sarin nerve gas, should have influenced the court’s decisions regarding his mental state.
Despite the advocacy efforts, Hutchinson was executed by lethal injection on May 1, after spending 24 years on death row. Schneider, who once firmly believed in the death penalty, shared how his views evolved upon examining the complexities surrounding capital punishment and the justice system’s inequities.
The increase in executions in Florida can be attributed to several factors, including the state leadership’s approach toward crime and punishment policies. Maria DeLiberato, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, commented on Governor DeSantis’s unprecedented support for capital punishment.
Under DeSantis, Florida has seen a notable rise in the number of death warrants signed, with 11 signed in 2025 alone, compared to just one in the previous year. This development has raised concerns about transparency in decision-making related to capital punishment in the state.
While executing a historically high number of individuals, Florida also holds the distinction of leading the nation in exonerations from death row, with 30 exonerated individuals since 1973. This stark contrast has sparked dialogue about the validity and fairness of the death penalty in Florida.
Amid these concerns, around 100 faith leaders have addressed Governor DeSantis, urging him to halt executions in the state. Although DeSantis has publicly voiced his support for capital punishment, maintaining that some crimes merit such severe measures, his reasoning remains largely unexplained.
Unique to Florida is the new mandate that allows for non-unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences, requiring only an 8-4 vote for a jury to recommend capital punishment. This stands in contrast to the typical requirement of unanimity seen in many other states.
Despite the legislative changes, public sentiment appears mixed. For instance, a jury chose life imprisonment over the death penalty for Ronny Walker, a defendant convicted of first-degree murder involving a 14-year-old girl.
As Florida continues to conduct executions, the atmosphere around the Florida State Prison reflects the ongoing divisions over the death penalty. During scheduled execution days, supporters and opponents gather to express their beliefs. Faith-based organizations organize prayer vigils, while few supporters visibly advocate for executions.
The scene outside the prison has shifted dramatically compared to the past—while large crowds previously gathered to celebrate other executions, the current atmosphere often features a few lone voices advocating for capital punishment as the majority stand in opposition.
As the state upholds its position in the execution landscape, questions remain—what does this reflect about societal values and the future of capital punishment in Florida and the nation?
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