‘Battlefield-to-Prison,’ And Death Row.
Forgotten Service, Lasting Wounds: Military Veterans and the Death Penalty
Posted on Nov 10, 2025
The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) reports that many veterans have been executed without juries being given meaningful information about their military service. Many of these veterans faced physical and psychological challenges, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and exposure to neurotoxins.
Veterans are overrepresented on death row, with Florida using the Death Penalty more than any other state.
In 2025, the United States confronts a harrowing truth: this year stands as one of the deadliest for veterans on death row. With seven executions already carried out and three more on the horizon, veterans comprise a staggering 22% of all executions or pending warrants.
Despite representing only 6% of the U.S. population, veterans account for approximately 10% of those on death row—around 200 individuals across the nation. Since 1972, more than 800 veterans have been sentenced to death in 42 states, as well as in federal and military jurisdictions.
These courageous men and women have served in every major conflict since World War II, spanning all branches and ranks of the military. Many returned home bearing invisible wounds—PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and other psychological scars that often go untreated. True justice transcends mere punishment; it demands a recognition of the profound and lasting effects of war, ensuring that the service of no veteran culminates in silence on death row.