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Capital punishment is legal in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

Current development

Wyoming Legislature passed a new and current death penalty statute on February 28, 1977^[1], due to eliminating all previous statutes across the country by the 1972 United States Supreme Court Furman v. Georgia decision.

Capital crimes

First-degree murder is the only capital crime in Wyoming^[2]. There are 11 aggravating factors^[3].

Life in prison without parole is an option^[2].

Death row and clemency process

Male death row is located in Rawlins (for females in Lusk). Currently 2 men and no women are awaiting execution^[1].

The Governor of Wyoming has a sole right to grant commutation of the death sentence. Since 1977 no commutation was granted^[4].

Method of executions

Lethal injection is the sole method of execution. Gas chamber, however, is a backup method if injection would ever be found unconstitutional^[5].

Executed individuals

Only one individual has been executed in the state of Wyoming since 1976:

Historical

Wyoming has executed 22 men between 1884 and 1965. 5 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 17 since^[6].

Until 1937 hanging was the only used method. Later gas chamber was introduced. Totally 17 convicted people were hanged and 5 gassed.^[6].

Wyoming has never executed a woman or anyone for a crime other than murder^[7].

Federal death penalty

One federal (outside state juridsiction) execution, not listed here, took place on April 26, 1945, when Henry Ruhl was gassed for a murder committed on a Government Reservation^[8].

No one was convicted by federal courts in Wyoming and sentenced to death after 1988 (date of federal death penalty reintroduction)^[9].

List of executions until 1965

Prior to Wyoming becoming a State:

Wyoming became a state July 10, 1890. A total of 18 individuals were executed in the state of Wyoming prior to the 1972 Supreme Court capital punishment ban.

One federal execution took place:

References