On January 2, 2007, the New Jersey Death Penalty Commission recommended that the state abolish the death penalty, replacing it with a life sentence without the possibility of parole. A report endorsed by 12 of the 13 members of the commission concluded that there was "no compelling evidence that the New Jersey death penalty rationally serves a legitimate penological intent," although there was "increasing evidence that the death penalty is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency." New Jersey later abolished the death penalty.



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