Offenders in Southern States. V. Unique psychological situation A. Group of ordinary citizens sit around and discuss the taking of a life WITH the support of the law. More likely to support in abstract then in actual cases. Rejected life history information Skepticism about life sentence, and whether death sentence would be carried out. During 1998 at least 1,625 prisoners are known to have been executed in 37 countries and 3,899 sentenced to death in 78 countries.
True figures are certainly higher.
68 prisoners were executed in the USA in 1998, bringing to 500 the total number executed since the use of the death penalty was resumed in 1977. Over 3,500 prisoners were under sentence of death at the end of 1998.