Death Penalty in Tennessee

As of October 2026, Tennessee remains one of the 27 U.S. states that retain the death penalty in law. Tennessee generally uses lethal injection, with electrocution available for certain older cases and as a fallback; after the failed 2026 execution of Christa Pike, the governor halted the remaining 2026 execution while ordering a review.

Current legal status

The death penalty remains part of Tennessee 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

Execution facilities: Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.

Execution events: Failed Execution of Christa Pike, Failed Execution Attempt of Tony Von Carruthers.

Constitutional framework

Why this page exists

Sources

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