1. United States

Crimes punishable by death
Capital punishment is legal in 31 of the 50 US states. Crimes subject to capital punishment vary from one to the other, but basically are aggravated murder and other offenses resulting on death, terrorism, drug trafficking, treason, espionage, military offenses, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and attempted murder of any officer, juror or witness in cases involving a continuing criminal enterprise.

Offenders excluded
Individuals bellow age 18 at the time of crime, pregnant women, intellectually disabled and mentally ill.

Methods of execution
Lethal injection. Also hanging, shooting, gas chamber and electrocution are alternative methods.

Prison Conditions
Vary from one state to the other. Complete Isolation (from 22 to 24 h in the cell), no access to family or attorneys, no psychological care, insufficient medical attention, no television or air conditioning and no possibility of educational or vocational training. Group activities are forbidden as well as any physical contact even in the hours before the execution.

Executions since 1992
1318.

Exonerations from 1973
162.

People under sentence of death
2817.

Average time awaiting execution
10 years.

2. Japan

Crimes punishable by death
Murder and other offenses resulting on death, terrorism, arson, treason, espionage, military offenses, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Offenders excluded
Individuals bellow age 18 at the time of crime, pregnant women, intellectually disabled and mentally ill.

Methods of execution
Hanging.

Prison Conditions
Solitary confinement in cells of about eight square meters.Insufficient medical caring and lack of heating or air conditioning. Attorneys and relatives are the only people who can visit. Prisons have reported inadequate access to potable water or food and insufficient clothing or blankets. Television and radio are forbidden. Reading material and correspondence are controlled.

Executions since 1992
115.

Exonerations from 1973
3.

People under sentence of death
134.

Average time awaiting execution
7 years.

3. Belorus

Crimes punishable by death
Murder with aggravating circumstances, terrorism, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Is the only country in Europe and Central Asia that still executes people.

Offenders excluded
Individuals bellow age 18 at the time of crime, women, mentally ill and persons 65 years or older at sentencing.

Methods of execution
Firing Squad.

Prison Conditions
Cells are roughly two by three meters, artificially illuminated for 24 hours a day. Are designed to house multiple inmates, and contain open holes as toilets. Prisoners are confined to their cells except for a visit to the sauna every ten days.
TV is not allowed. Correspondence is not permitted.

Executions since 1992
293.

Exonerations
N/A.

People under sentence of death
N/A.

Average time awaiting execution
1 year.

4. Malawi

Crimes punishable by death
Murder, rape, robbery, burglary, treason, military offenses, housebreaking, defined as breaking into any building with the intent to commit a felony therein. The last execution took place in 1992.

Offenders excluded
Individuals bellow age 18 at the time of crime, pregnant women and mentally ill.

Methods of execution
Hanging.

Prison Conditions
The extreme poverty of the country is even more evident in the penitentiary system. Cells are tiny, with little ventilation. Each one holds two or three inmates that remain locked for about 14 hours a day. The rest of the day they can go out to a patio from which the gallows can be seen.Terrible sanitary conditions with great proliferation of tuberculosis and HIV. The shortage of food is unbelievable.

Executions since 1992
N/A.

Exonerations
N/A.

People under sentence of death
15.

Average time awaiting execution
N/A.

5. Iran

Crimes punishable by death
More than 130. Among them Murder, terrorism, rape, robbery, kidnapping, burglary, recidivist theft, drug trafficking, possession or addiction, economic crimes, adultery, apostasy, consensual sexual relations between adults of same sex, treason, espionage, military offences, political crimes, recidivist consumption of alcoholic beverages, blasphemy, publishing pornography or using pornographic materials to solicit sex.

Offenders excluded
Minors (according to the Islamic law), pregnant women and mentally ill.

Methods of execution
Hanging, shooting and stoning. Also falling from a height (until 2008) and beheading (until 2001).

Prison Conditions
Overcrowded and unhealthy. With no air conditioning or heating. Prisoners are denied food and medical care. Political prisoners are held with violent felons, and juveniles are detained with adult offenders. Extreme physical abuse including rape and torture.

Executions since 2002
6000 or higher.

Exonerations
N/A.

People under sentence of death
5000.

Average time awaiting execution
N/A.