Use of death penalty continues to decline in Texas

While Texas led the nation in the number of inmates executed in 2018, the use of capital punishment in the state continues to decline, according to a new report.

The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty said in its year-end review report the drop can be attributed, in part, to prosecutors and the public continuing to turn away from the death penalty.

"The death penalty landscape in Texas has changed significantly over the last 20 years," said Kristin Houl, the coalition's executive director.

"Not only have the number of death sentences and executions declined by staggering percentages, but the chorus of voices raising concerns about the application of the death penalty grows louder and more diverse every day."