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A special panel is recommending that the State of New Jersey abolish capital punishment in favor of life imprisonment with no parole, claiming the death penalty is more expensive for taxpayers than life term sentences.

The 13-member commission formed by the Legislature in 2005 also listed other states in the U.S. who should reconsider capitol punishment as well as cited the federal court’s efforts to restrict the execution of minors and mentally retarded convicts, and the religious opposition of the death penalty.

Both the governor of New Jersey and the leaders of the Legislature favor eliminating capitol punishment in the state.

“There is increasing evidence that the death penalty is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency,” said the panel report, which was released this week.

Does the Death Penalty Deter Murder?

Also in the report are studies that show there is no “compelling evidence” that capitol punishment actually deters people from committing heinous crimes like murder.

Furthermore, the public defender’s office has estimated that New Jersey would save almost $1.5 million annually as well as other decreased costs.

Governor Jon S. Corzine claims he will continue his efforts to ensure the state abolishes the death penalty. If implemented, New Jersey would become the first U.S. state to eliminate capitol punishment legislatively since it was reinstated by the Supreme Court in 1976.

“As someone who has long opposed the death penalty, I look forward to working with the Legislature to implement the recommendations outlined in the report,” said Corzine.

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