Hanging is a legal means of execution in some states of the United States. The condemned person stands on a platform with a noose of rope around the neck. A trap door opens under the person, and the person falls until jerked to a stop by the rope. The sudden jolt breaks or dislocates the bones of the neck, causing almost immediate loss of consciousness. Death usually occurs within a few minutes. See also Capital punishment (table: Capital punishment in the United States) .
