The US re-legalized the death penalty 50 years ago. Is it working as intended? (opens original article in a new tab)

Fifty years after the US re-legalized the death penalty, it faces ongoing criticism for inefficiency, racial disparities, and high costs, with few executions and many cases taking decades to resolve.

• The US death penalty was re-legalized in 1976 with reforms to reduce arbitrariness, but 50 years later, it remains flawed.
• Fewer than 20% of death row inmates have been executed, with many cases taking decades to resolve and frequent appeals overturning sentences.
• Racial disparities persist, and the system is criticized for being inefficient, costly, and risking the execution of innocent people.