Capital Punishment By The United States Federal Government - Capital Offenses

Capital Offenses

These are the offenses punishable by death or another punishment in the United States Code:

• Causing death by using a chemical weapon
• Killing a member of the Congress, the Cabinet or United States Supreme Court
• Kidnapping a member of the Congress, the Cabinet or Supreme Court resulting in death
• Conspiracy to kill a member of the Congress, the Cabinet or Supreme Court resulting in death
• Causing death by using an explosive
• Causing death by using an illegal firearm
• Genocide
• First degree murder
  • Murder perpetrated by poison or lying in wait
  • Murder that is willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated
  • Murder in the perpetration of or in the attempt to perpetrate any arson, escape, kidnapping, treason, espionage, sabotage, aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse, child abuse, burglary, or robbery
  • Murder perpetrated as part of a pattern or practice of assault or torture against a child or children
• Murder committed by a federal prisoner or an escaped federal prisoner sentenced to 15 years to life or a more severe penalty
• Assassinating the President or a member of his staff
• Kidnapping the President or a member of his staff resulting in death
• Killing persons aiding Federal investigations or State correctional officers
• Sexual abuse resulting in death
• Sexual exploitation of children resulting in death
• Torture resulting in death
• War crimes resulting in death
• Crimes Against Humanity
• Large-scale drug trafficking
• Attempting, authorizing or advising the killing of any officer, juror, or witness in cases involving a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, even if such killing does not occur.
• Espionage
• Treason