The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved leg­is­la­tion that would repeal the death penal­ty and replace it with a sen­tence of life with­out parole. Supporters of the mea­sure say that it will save tax­pay­ers an esti­mat­ed $3 mil­lion a year, mon­ey they con­tend would be bet­ter spent on help­ing vic­tims’ fam­i­lies. They also note that cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment could result in an inno­cent per­son being exe­cut­ed, does not deter mur­der, and is unfair­ly admin­is­tered in the state. ​“There are no rich peo­ple on death row,” not­ed Rep. Gail Chasey (pic­tured), who spon­sored the leg­is­la­tion.

Though pros­e­cu­tors have sought the death penal­ty 207 times since 1979, the death penal­ty was imposed only 28 times. Nineteen of those sen­tences were over­turned, five were com­mut­ed by for­mer Governor Toney Anaya, one pris­on­er died on death row, one pris­on­er was exe­cut­ed, and two remain on death row.

The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 41 – 28, now goes to the Senate for con­sid­er­a­tion.

(Associated Press, February 12, 2007). See Recent Legislative Activity and Life Without Parole.

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