What do you think about New Jersey abolishing the death penalty??

Question

Here is an article:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/17/death.penalty/index.html?iref=newssearch

Answer 1

New Jersey did the right thing and in the right way. It instituted a year long study commission before taking up an abolition bill. Among the many witnesses before the commission were families of murder victims who do not support the death penalty. (Link to the commission report, below.)

You don't have to sympathize with criminals or want them to avoid a terrible punishment to ask if the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime and to think about the risks of executing innocent people. Your question is much too important to settle without thinking about these.

125 people on death rows have been released with proof that they were wrongfully convicted. DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides and isn’t a guarantee we won’t execute innocent people.

The death penalty doesn't prevent others from committing murder. No reputable study shows the death penalty to be a deterrent. To be a deterrent a punishment must be sure and swift. The death penalty is neither. Homicide rates are higher in states and regions that have it than in those that don’t.

We have a good alternative. Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. It is sure and swift and rarely appealed. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty.

The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, mostly because of the legal process which is supposed to prevent executions of innocent people.

The death penalty isn't reserved for the worst crimes, but for defendants with the worst lawyers. It doesn't apply to people with money. When is the last time a wealthy person was on death row, let alone executed?

The death penalty doesn't necessarily help families of murder victims. Murder victim family members across the country argue that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

Problems with speeding up the process. Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

Answer 2

I think it's a good thing. Capital punishment has never been shown to be a deterrent. States with the death penalty do not have a lower murder rate than states without the death penalty. The death penalty seems to be mostly reserved for poor people especially if they are male and a minority. Apply it fairly or don't use it at all.

Answer 3

I personally disagree with it, but it is New Jersey's prerogative. Questions about public morality like the death penalty should be decided by individual state legislatures and not the courts. If New Jersey wants to get rid of the DP, more power to them, but I prefer to live in one of the other 49 states that still have the DP.
What I oppose is citizens imposing their view on this subject on other states.

Answer 4

I think that stinks. As a retired employee of the California Youth Authority I have first hand information that the murder rate in California dropped by 42% when the death penalty was reinstated here. It gave consiquences too those who comitted murder in California. Prior to that the gangs used children as young as 9 years old too be hit men for the gangs

Answer 5

Haven't decided yet. But I did hear that New York was going to vote on abolishing New Jersey!

Answer 6

I think it's great.

I live on the West Coast and if all the states east of the Mississippi river would abolish the death penalty the murderers could flock there and leave me and my community alone.

Yep, it's great for everyone but the citizens of New Jersey. For them, it turns their state into a safe haven for gangs and even less desirable's. Thanks New Jersey, now finish the job and refuse to extradite anyone to face the death penalty.

Answer 7

its not good to have the death penalty if you never use it, but i beleive it may be a deterrant but overall it dont work because some people just dont care it for one would rather die than spend my whole reamaining life in jail

Answer 8

Seeing as they have not executed anyone since the 60's who cares! At least they get to rename "death row" to the "senior citizen ward"

Answer 9

I find this such a hard question to answer. If someone killed my loved ones, the only punishment I see is death. There you go, my answer. I believe in the death penalty

Answer 10

abolishing the death penalty in any state is the dumbist thing there is...it just puts the killings back into the hands of the criminals..you kill..you should die for it...not spend years on death row awaiting your execution...the people they killed didnt have years to see what is going to happen..or to appeal to the courts year after year..i liked the old days..if found guilty..they hung you..no waiting around for appeals..