N.J. Senate Votes to Abolish the Death Penalty
The death penalty in New Jersey is on it's way out.
The state Senate approved legislation Monday that would make New Jersey the first state to abolish the death penalty since 1976, when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to impose the sentence.
Death sentences would be changed to life without parole. The bill is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled House, perhaps Thursday, and then go to Gov. John Corzine. Corzine, a death penalty opponent, likely will sign it into law by January 8.
This is not a sudden development. [More...]
The effort to abolish capital punishment in New Jersey stems from a January report by a special state commission. It found the death penalty was a more expensive sentence than life in prison and has not deterred murder. "The death penalty is barbaric and fatally flawed beyond repair," said Sen. Shirley Turner, a Democrat who sponsored the bill.
....the bill has been supported by clergy and family members of murder victims who contend New Jersey's death penalty law has proven meaningless.
New Jersey currently has eight men on death row.
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