Number of Executions, Death Sentences in U.S. Dropping: Report

The number of executions and the number of people sentenced to death in the U.S. fell in 2015, NBC News reported.

Six states put inmates to death, with the total number of executions reaching 28 in the last year — the lowest since 1991, according to a report by Death Penalty Information Center.

New death sentences also slid in 2015, with just 49 sentences expected by Dec. 31. It’s the lowest number since 1973, the center reported.

Opponents of capital punishment are hailing the statistics, while supporters of the death penalty say the low number of executions reflects the problems with getting lethal injection drugs.  

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