The death penalty in the United States is on the rise due to influence from tough-on-crime governors and hardline prosecutors.

The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority is increasingly allowing executions to proceed.

States like Alabama and South Carolina are experimenting with potentially dangerous, unprecedented execution methods.

Florida has extended the use of the death penalty to non-lethal cases involving sex crimes against children.

Since Amy Coney Barrett's appointment, the Supreme Court has reduced stays of execution and reversed previous rulings limiting the death penalty.

This shift in stance has led to an increase in executions and allowance for experimental execution methods, despite controversy over their painlessness.

Death penalty cases continue to raise issues around racism, innocence, mental health and legal counsel.

Local courts are now the primary battlegrounds for death penalty cases as the Supreme Court has reduced its involvement.