Executions by County

Although counties do not carry out executions, in almost all states the decision to seek the death penalty is made by the county district attorney. A small number of counties are responsible for a disproportionate number of the executions in the United States. DPIC's Execution Database now has information on the original county for each case. Search results can be sorted by county.

Top 15 Counties by Execution Since 1976
(as of 1/1/2013)

Total Number of Counties in the U.S. = 3,143 (source: U.S. Census Bureau)

These 15 counties accounted for 30% of the executions in the U.S. between 1976 and January 1, 2013. They represent fewer than one-half of one percent of the total number of counties in the country, and fewer than 1% of the total number of counties in states with the death penalty.

15 counties with the most executions, 1976 through 1/1/2013
(major cities within county in parentheses):

1. Harris County (Houston), TX - 116

2. Dallas County (Dallas/Fort Worth), TX - 50

3. Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City), OK - 38

4. Tarrant County (Fort Worth), TX - 37

5. Bexar County (San Antonio), TX - 36

6. Montgomery County, TX - 16

7. Tulsa County, OK - 15

8. Jefferson County, TX -14

9. St. Louis County, MO - 13

10. St. Louis City, MO - 12

11. Potter County, TX - 11

11. Pima County (Tuscon), AZ - 11

11. Maricopa County, AZ - 11

11. Brazos County, TX - 11

11. Nueces County, TX - 11

The following 16 counties accounted for 14% (191 executions) of the executions in the U.S. between 1976 and January 1, 2013. They represent one-half of one percent of the total number of counties in the country, and fewer than 1% of the total number of counties in states with the death penalty.

The 16 counties with the most executions, 1976 through 1/1/2013,
not including Texas
(major cities within county in parentheses):

1. Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City), OK - 38

2. Tulsa County, OK - 15

3. St. Louis County, MO - 13

4. St. Louis City, MO - 12

5. Pima County, AZ - 11

5. Maricopa County, AZ - 11

7. Hamilton County, OH - 10

7. Jefferson County, AL - 10

7. Miami-Dade County, FL - 10

7. Mobile County, AL - 10

11. New Castle County, DE - 9

11. Prince William County, VA - 9

13. Charleston County, SC - 8

13. Chesterfield County, VA - 8

13. Clark County, NV - 8

13. Virginia Beach City, VA - 8

The 10 counties with the most murders
2006 - 2010
(major cities within county in parentheses):

1. Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles)

2. Cook County, IL (Chicago)

3. Harris County, TX (Houston)

4. Wayne County, MI (Detroit)

5. Philadelphia County, PA (Philadelphia)

6. Baltimore City, MD

7. Kings County, NY (part of New York City)

8. Orleans Parish, LA (New Orleans)

9. Dallas County, TX (Dallas)

10. Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix)

Murder data source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2006 - 2010

Execution data taken from DPIC's Execution Database. Thanks to Professor Frank Baumgartner at University of North Carolina for county information.

Additional resources:

See F. Baumgartner "The Geography of the Death Penalty" (2010)
R. Smith, "The Geography of the Death Penalty and Its Ramifications," 92 Boston University Law Review 227 (2012)
J. Liebman and P. Clarke, "Minority Practice, Majority's Burden: The Death Penalty Today," 9 Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law 255 (2011)

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