Execute Justice.
Not People.
Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona (DPAA) is a statewide grassroots organization working to educate the public on issues related to the death penalty and the inequities of the criminal justice system.
Current information about the Death Penalty in Arizona
Arizona is one of 27 states that still practice the death penalty. Since 1910, the state has carried out 102 executions.
In 2014, Arizona botched the execution of Joseph Wood, leading to an almost eight-year hiatus. However, on May 11, 2022, the state resumed executions under the Governor Ducey Administration. That year, three people were executed:
Clarence Dixon – May 11, 2022
Frank Atwood – June 8, 2022
Murray Hooper – November 16, 2022
As of March 11, 2025, 112 people remain on death row, with more than 20 nearing the end of their appeals.
Review of Arizona’s Execution Protocol
On February 24, 2023, Governor Katie Hobbs ordered a review of Arizona’s execution protocol, citing concerns about past failures. She appointed Judge David Duncan as an independent commissioner to examine the state's death penalty procedures. At the time, Governor Hobbs stated:
“A comprehensive and independent review must be conducted to ensure these problems are not repeated in future executions. I’m more than confident that Judge Duncan has the expertise and ability to take on this crucial role.”
However, in November 2024, Governor Hobbs abruptly terminated the review after the Arizona Department of Corrections objected to a draft report in which Judge Duncan concluded that lethal injection was "not a viable method of execution in actual practice."
In an interview with the Arizona Republic, Duncan remarked:
"Somewhere along the way, the winds changed, and I seemed to lose support from the governor and the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry. Whether that was due to political pressure, I don't know."
The Push to Resume Executions
Just days after the review was terminated, Attorney General Kris Mayes confirmed that her office would seek a death warrant. Earlier in 2024, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell had pressured Mayes to resume executions, and she signaled that a warrant could be sought as early as 2025.
Despite past failures, Arizona will resume executions once again. Aaron Gunches is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, Arizona on March 19th, 2025 at 10 am.
Racial Bias & Death Penalty Outcomes
In the United States, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color) have accounted for a disproportionate 43 % of total executions since 1976 and 55 % of those currently awaiting execution.
In Arizona, 44.6% of all documented executions between 1910-2022 have been from BIPOC communities despite representing much smaller populations than the majority Caucasian population.
Death Row Racial Composition
Arizona Death Racial Demographics
V. Arizona State Population
Take an in-depth look at the death penalty in Arizona and watch:
Watch Eye For An Eye:
The Death Penalty in Arizona
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Death penalty abolition is a movement of millions nationwide. Whether you are comfortable contributing time to help achieve our advocacy goals, donating to help us grow, or applying political pressure on policymakers to change the archaic and cruel practice of retributive punishment, we need you on our team!
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