Death Penalty in Ohio

As of October 2026, Ohio is one of the states that legally retains capital punishment but has an executive hold or practical pause on executions. Ohio retains the death penalty, but Governor Mike DeWine said in 2025 that he did not anticipate executions during the remainder of his governorship through 2026.

Current legal status

The death penalty remains part of Ohio law. That does not necessarily mean executions occur regularly: capital punishment in the United States varies sharply by state because death sentences, appeals, clemency, execution warrants, drug availability, court orders and executive policy can all affect whether a sentence is carried out.

Authorized execution methods

This state page is therefore linked to the broader Execution Methods in the United States archive rather than repeating technical protocol details that can change over time.

Death row, prisons and execution sites

Landmark cases: Lockett v. Ohio.

Execution events: Failed Execution Attempt of Romell Broom, Botched Execution of Joseph L. Clark, Failed Execution Attempt of Alva Campbell, Botched Execution of Dennis McGuire.

Constitutional framework

Why this page exists

Sources

– Death Penalty Information Center — Ohio state profile. – Death Penalty Information Center — Authorized Methods by State.