​THE SUPREME COURT AND THE DEATH PENALTY:

The case of Furman vs. Georgia was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 1972.  In that case, the Court held that capital punishment was unconstitutional and struck down state death penalty laws nationwide.  A number of death penalty sentences were commuted to life in prison. In 1976 the Supreme Court overturned its ruling in Furman and upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in the case of Gregg vs. Georgia.  Mississippi passed a statue authorizing discretionary death penalty sentences in 1977 in compliance with Gregg.

• The Death Penalty in Mississippi, Executions
• Current state law. Mississippi’s manner of execution of the death sentence includes intravenous injection of a substance or substances, nitrogen hypoxia, electrocution, or firing squad. However, the preferred method of execution is intravenous injection.  The executioner, members of the execution team, the supplier of lethal injection chemicals, and witnesses are confidential. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 99-19-1 — 99-19-77
• Current Death Row Demographics​
• Death Row Inmates - There are 35 inmates sentenced to death in Mississippi.

All executions occur at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.