After hours of debate and testimony, the New Jersey Senate today approved bill S-171 which will replace the state’s death penalty with a sentence of life without parole. The measure was approved by a vote of 21-16 and now moves to the State Assembly, where approval is also expected in a vote on Thursday. The governor has indicated he will sign the bill into law, making New Jersey the first state to legislatively abolish the death penalty in over 40 years. Around the country, the death penalty is declining in use and other states are examining their own capital punishment statutes. (See DPIC’s Press Release; see also N.J. Star-Ledger, Dec. 10, 2007).
Recent Legislative Activity
Jul 20, 2023
![Judge Rules Tennessee Statute Which Expands Attorney General Authority in Death Penalty Cases is Unconstitutional](https://img.dpic-cdn.org/images/Robert-Hutton_Steve-Mulroy.png?w=300&h=300&q=60&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1689809319&s=2ebb1f6f3c8d8b44eb5310bc9e6efb3b)
Judge Rules Tennessee Statute Which Expands Attorney General Authority in Death Penalty Cases is Unconstitutional
Recent Legislative Activity
Jun 05, 2023
![Black-Led Organizations Oppose New Death Penalty Legislation, Citing Disproportionate Effect on Communities of Color](https://img.dpic-cdn.org/images/Hodge-and-Rooks.png?w=300&h=300&q=60&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1685984330&s=7174d16d229720c2628af6b2457f00aa)
Black-Led Organizations Oppose New Death Penalty Legislation, Citing Disproportionate Effect on Communities of Color
Recent Legislative Activity
Apr 28, 2023
![South Carolina Advances Legislation to Keep Execution Details Secret](https://img.dpic-cdn.org/images/legacy/SealSC.jpg?w=300&h=300&q=60&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1560348739&s=b65f9377f7ab5ba9ef4944c5a713f4c0)