US2 min(s) read
Published 15:59 26 Mar 2026 GMT
US state makes major change to default execution method of child sex abusers
One US state has made a major change to the default method of execution for convicted child sex abusers.
On Monday, the Idaho House unanimously passed a bill to allow the death penalty for adults who sexually abuse children age 12 and younger in Idaho, with the default method of execution being firing squad.
As reported by Idaho Capital Sun, House Bill 380, cosponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, would allow the death penalty for aggravated lewd conduct with children age 12 and younger, a new criminal charge created within the bill.
The bill would also add mandatory minimum prison sentences for cases of aggravated lewd conduct with minors, applying only to the abuse of children aged 16 and under, that don’t meet the bill’s proposed criteria for death penalty eligibility.
Skaug told House lawmakers: "Unfortunately, Idaho has some of the widest or most lenient statutes on rape of a child in the nation."
In 2008 the US Supreme Court blocked death penalties for child rape in Kennedy v. Louisiana, while a child rape death penalty law was passed in Florida two years ago.
Skaug added that five other state are considering death penalty bills in cases of child rape.
He added that the death penalty would rarely be used under the bill, with the Idaho Department of Correction listing nine people currently on death row in Idaho.
The bill was passed by the Idaho House on Monday with 63 votes in favor and none against.
In order to become law, Idaho bills must pass the House and Senate, and avoid the governor’s veto. Currently, Idaho law only permits the death penalty in cases of first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances.
It comes after Idaho Governor Brad Little signed a bill into law last week making firing squad the state's main execution method.
Under the new bill, lewd conduct against minors age 12 and younger would only be eligible for the death penalty if it involve at least three aggravating factors, with more than a dozen aggravating factors listed in the bill.
These include already being found guilty of a crime that requires sex offender registration, committing lewd conduct against the same victim at least three separate times, being in a position of trust or having “supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim,” penetration with a penis, kidnapping, human trafficking the child, torture, using force or coercion, or being armed with a weapon.