Execution warrant

Normally when a death warrant is signed and an execution date is set, the condemned person is moved from his or her death row cell to a death watch cell, which is typically located adjacent to the execution chamber.

Usually, the government agency charged with carrying out an execution, normally the state's Department of Corrections or the Federal Bureau of Prisons in federal cases, has a limited time frame, normally about 60 days, from the date the warrant is signed, to complete the execution process, or the warrant expires and the condemned person is returned to the death row cell, awaiting another execution date.

In all cases, the stay may be issued at any time, even when the condemned is being prepared for execution.

List of people in The United States with pending execution warrants.

Mary, Queen of Scots, whose death warrant was signed by Elizabeth I, and King Charles I were among the most famous victims of death warrants in British history.

Large hand-written document, coloured yellow with age. There is a block of text at the top, and 59 signatures and red wax seals at the bottom.
The death warrant (1649) of King Charles I of England and the wax seals of the 59 commissioners [ a ]