A capital offense is any type of crime that is punishable by death. In the United States, each state has the right to determine if they will have a capital punishment method or if they will not. More so, each state is able to make decisions on what types of crimes are capital offenses. They can then select the methods that are acceptable for executing those who are guilty of a capital offense. Most states reserve this type of action for only the worst offending criminals such as those found guilty of murder, rape and multiple crimes. If an individual receives a charge with one of these incidents, it is said that the charge is a capital offense, meaning that the death penalty may apply.