The number of U.S. executions fell to a quarter-century low in 2016 as new death sentences plummeted, indicating capital punishment is on the decline, a study released on Wednesday showed. The number of U.S. executions in 2016 was 20, the lowest since 1991, according to the study from the Death Penalty Information Center, which monitors capital punishment. While 31 states have the death penalty, only five held executions in 2016.
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U.S. executions hit 25-year low as capital punishment wanes-study
