Only in the post-revolutionary period where it's necessary to execute capitalists, generals, police members. Basically, you'll need a period where you have to rid the new society of those who committed atrocities against the people. It's normal procedure in Socialist countries.

Then abolish it. Criminals should be put to work, they have a debt to society. If they can't be reformed by labor or other means they contribute more to society by working rather than being executed. Also, there's always the problem of someone being wrongly convicted and executed, there's no way to correct that.