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Lesniak Wants to Abolish Death Penalty in New Jersey

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TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, the prime sponsor of a bill to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey, said he hopes to get the measure posted for a vote in the near future.

“I am looking forward to moving my legislation to abolish the death penalty and to replace it with a penalty of life imprisonment without parole,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union.

The Democratic Senator introduced the bill, S-1212, in February of 2004, and it has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. If it does not move before the end of the current session in January, it would be re-introduced in the new session.

“We should abolish the death penalty to remove our potential to kill innocent people,” Senator Lesniak said. “By replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment without parole we will ensure that murderers are kept behind bars for the rest of their lives.”

A report released today by New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NJADP) and New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) says the death penalty has cost New Jersey taxpayers more than $253 million and led to no executions since its reinstatement 23 years ago.

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