Until this year, death penalty executions had been dwindling across the nation. The sudden spike now is unusual, experts say.

Forty-four people on death row have been executed so far this year, and three more executions are scheduled. If all are carried out, there will be almost twice as many executions this year compared to 2024.

The last time there were this many executions in a single year was in 2012, when 43 executions were carried out. In general, the number of executions has trended downward since the turn of the century.

More executions can still be scheduled this year, and upcoming executions can still be reversed. Recently, Oklahoma's governor granted clemency to Tremane Wood on Nov. 13, just minutes before he was scheduled to be executed.

And, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis s

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