Hangings

Hangings are deaths caused by suspending a person by a ligature around the neck. Historically associated with capital punishment, they can also occur as suicide or accidental hangs. In formal executions, the aim is a prompt, humane fatality, though outcomes depend on procedure and circumstances.

Traditional hangings use a noose on the neck, with a scaffold or gallows. Variants include the short drop, in which death results mainly from constriction, and the long drop, designed to fracture the cervical spine for a faster death. Some methods rely on sustained compression without a drop. Botched hangings can prolong consciousness and cause suffering.

Hangings have been documented in many civilizations from antiquity, becoming common in Europe and the Americas in the early modern period. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, many countries abolished capital punishment or restricted it to other methods; others retain hanging as the legal method under strict procedures.

Ethical and legal debates focus on humanity, risk of wrongful execution, and the possibility of unequal application. International bodies have criticized certain practices as inhumane. Where hangings remain legal, safeguards and transparent processes are emphasized to minimize errors and abuse.

Note: The term hangings can also refer to decorative textiles or wall hangings; this use is unrelated to the execution method.