Is Texas Losing Its Will To Execute Inmates? Look At The Numbers.

Texas has executed far more prisoners than any other state since the Supreme Court reinstituted the death penalty in 1977.

According to U.S. News, Texas has executed 598 people in that time, with Oklahoma coming in second at 123. That's a huge difference.

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However, in the last few years, the number of executions- and death penalty sentences- has dwindled. Is Texas losing the will to execute?

This year, Texas will likely have had the second most executions, since our execution "season" is over with five men meeting the needle. The next person slated to die is Steven Nelson in February of next year.

Alabama still has one more person scheduled to be executed (controversially by nitrogen gas), which will total 6 if the man does not receive a stay or clemency.Carey Dale Grayson's crime doesn't leave much room for sympathy, so my money is on him meeting his maker this year.

Looking at recent years, Texas has not always taken the top slot for executions. We did in 2023 with eight executions, but in 2022 we tied with Oklahoma at 5.

In 2021, we tied with the Federal Government at 3, and in 2020 we fell way behind the Feds at 3 to its 10 executions.

Nearly 180 people sit on Texas death row, but is the will to actually schedule their executions there?

Many are cop killers, family murderers, and otherwise extremely heinous offenders (I'm looking at you Taylor Renee Parker).

Still, others have sat on the row for decades for robberies gone wrong or because they were committing another felony with a group that ended up killing someone, a.k.a. Texas "Law of Parties." Some of these folks will certainly die of old age.

Regardless of whether those 180 people die at the hands of the state, I think the true indicator that the death penalty is "dying" is how few new people land on the row.

So far in 2024, only 3 people were given the ultimate punishment, according to TCADP. In 2023, again, only 3 people were sentenced to death.

In fact, the last several years have shown a precipitous decline in capital convictions. In 1998, 48 people were sentenced to death. But since that year, the numbers show a sharp trend down.

Why the decline? According to Harvard Law School, its likely due to public awareness of overturned convictions- that is- too many death row inmates were innocent. That does leave a sour taste.

Another reason is simply declining crime rates. With the near certainty of being caught thanks to amazing forensic technology- why risk it?

Additionally, for a jury or judge to give a death penalty, the prosecution has to seek it. Many prosecutors will avoid it in all but the most egregious cases, because it is much more expensive and time-consuming to pursue.

Will executions ever be a thing of our Texas past? Possibly. However, I think we have many more years of execution to come- even if they only come by the handful.

Texas Death Row: Every Inmate Executed Or Granted A Stay in 2024

After Robert Roberson was granted a last-minute stay, executions for 2024 have now wrapped up for Texas. Here is a look at everyone who was scheduled to die in 2024. We take a look at the crimes they were convicted of, and whether or not this was their year to meet the needle.

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven

Still Wanted: These Texas Fugitives Have Evaded Capture The Longest

These men have been fugitives of Texas justice for many years. All committed serious offenses and many have a long list of priors. All men should be considered dangerous. Have a tip? Call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) and you could get a huge cash reward.

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven