Tag: USA

Execution spree continues in Florida


Man on death row for 34 years due to be executed

May 2026

The pace of executions in Florida continues and the latest is Dusty Ray Spencer who has been on death row since 1992. Gov. De Santis has signed the warrant and the due date is noon on June 25th. Florida accounts for 40% of all US executions last year according to Amnesty International. It is the tenth such warrant signed by the governor this year. The state set a record in 2025 with 19 executions.

Spencer was convicted of murdering his wife in a violent assault. This was witnessed by his son who tried unsuccessfully to intervene. The Jury voted 7-5 in favour of execution. There have been a number of appeals. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty state that if the case was heard today, he would be unlikely to receive the death penalty. In the light of all the executions FADP say that ‘We reject the idea that executions are inevitable. Nothing requires the state of Florida to respond to violence with more violence. Our leaders still have a choice’.

In preparing this piece we have explored a number of articles in the US and Florida media and there is little to explain how a marine who apparently had a good service record, became this violent individual. There are brief mentions of his mental state but little else.

If you visit the FADP site there is a petition. Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We publish a report each month on the use of the penalty around the world.

Sources: CBS News, FADP, Tampa Bay Times, Justia Law, ‘They Will Kill You’

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Monthly death penalty report


Report for mid-March to mid-April

April 2026

We are pleased to attach this month’s report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Featured this month are Florida with Governor De Santis’ spate of executions – the highest in the State’s history – the disturbing number of executions in Iran to add to the slaughter of its citizens in the streets, and the discriminatory bill passed by the Knesset in Israel for the execution of Palestinians in the West Bank.

As ever we note that China does not feature despite executing more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined.

lReport (Word)Download

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Imminent execution of ‘Ronnie’ Heath


Appeal for clemency in Florida

January 2026

Florida plans to execute Ronald “Ronnie” Heath on February 10, despite overwhelming evidence that execution would serve no purpose of justice, fairness, or accountability. Ronnie has spent nearly 35 years on death row for the murder of Michael Sheridan, a devastating crime that ended a human life and caused immeasurable harm to the people who loved him. Nothing in this request diminishes that loss or the gravity of the violence that occurred.

Ronnie has endured decades of incarceration, survived extreme trauma, and demonstrated profound growth and change. Meanwhile, his equally culpable co-defendant — his own brother — is alive, incarcerated, and now eligible for parole. Clemency exists for cases exactly like this: when punishment has become disproportionate, when juries never heard critical life-shaping evidence, when modern science changes how we understand culpability, and when execution would only compound harm rather than serve justice.

The Governor and Florida’s Clemency Board have the power and the responsibility to stop this execution. Your letter can help make that difference.

The above text by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. The petition to sign can be accessed from this link.

FADP is a Florida-based, state-wide organization working to end the death penalty in Florida. Their network includes dozens of state and local groups and thousands of individual Floridians, including murder victims’ family members and other survivors of violent crime, law enforcement professionals, families of the incarcerated, and death row exonerees. 

Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. It is not a deterrent and mistakes, which are not infrequent, cannot afterwards be rectified. We deprecate what appears to be the Florida state governor, Ron DeSantis using the penalty to demonstrate he is ‘tough on crime’ as part of his alleged desire to be the next president of the USA.

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Latest death penalty report


January 2026

We are pleased to attach the latest death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Florida is a feature this month with the rapid increase in the number of executions. Saudi has executed a huge number of people – almost one a day. We note as ever that China executes more of its people than the rest of the world combined but details are a state secret.

Mid December to mid January. WordDownload
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Florida and Iran: Key Insights from Recent Death Penalty Report


November 2025

We are pleased to attach the current death penalty report for mid October to mid November thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Florida features quite strongly as does Iran which is executing young people – a truly horrific act. There is also material on Israel which is considering laws for Palestinians quite different from the Jewish population, an example of apartheid which operates there. We note as ever that even though China makes a brief entry, the country is believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined but details are a state secret.

Report October – November (Word)Download

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Material on this site is free to use by other Amnesty or human rights groups.

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Latest death penalty report


October 2025

We are pleased to attach the latest death penalty report for the period mid-September to mid-October thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. There has been a lot of activity in America but we must point out as always that China is believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined but details are a state secret.

Report (Word)Download
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September 2025 Death Penalty Report: Key Insights


Full report for mid August to mid September

September 2025

We are pleased to attach the latest death penalty report for the above period thanks for the work put in by group member Lesley in compiling it. Contains extensive information from the US where the appetite for executions seems to be increasing in some states. Florida for example is the leading state at the moment. We have to caution as ever that China executes more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined but information is a state secret.

Sharifa Mohamadi sentenced to death in Iran for her human rights work.

Report August – September (Word)Download
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World death penalty report


Report for mid July to mid August

August 2025

We are pleased to attach the latest report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in preparing it. As ever, we note that China does not appear despite possibly executing more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined but details are a state secret.

Report: mid-July – August (Word)Download

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Death penalty report


Iran features in this months report

July 2025

We are pleased to attach the latest report on the use of the death penalty around the world for the period

mid-June to mid-July thanks to group member Lesley for its production. Note that China does not appear because although it is believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world put together, details are a state secret.

Picture of prisoners lining up to be executed in Iran.

Report June July (Word)Download
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Mid-May to Mid-June Report Highlights


June 2025

We are pleased to attach the report for the period mid-May to mid-June thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. It is longer than usual reflecting the increasing activity in the US following President Trump’s actions on the use of the penalty. As ever, we must point out that the world’s biggest user of the penalty – China – who is believed to execute thousands of its citizens, is not present in the report because details are a state secret.

Report: May June (Word)Download
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