Capital punishment in Rhode Island

Rhode Island was one of the earliest states in the United States to abolish capital punishment, having abolished it for all crimes in 1852. The death penalty was reintroduced in 1872, but it was never carried out before being abolished again in 1984. Of all the states, Rhode Island has had the longest period with no executions, none having taken place since 1845. Nobody has been sentenced to death in Rhode Island since 1975.

Rhode Island performed 53 executions from 1670 to February 13, 1845, but only eight took place after statehood. Half of the executions occurred on July 19, 1723, when 26 sailors were hanged for piracy. Rhode Island has never executed a woman.

Hanging was the most commonly used form of execution; one execution was carried out by hanging, drawing and quartering, while another was carried out by hanging and gibbeting. The gas chamber was authorized in 1973, but was never used. In 1984, Rhode Island established law current with the United States Constitution that capital punishment is a form of cruel and unusual punishment and is illegal.

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