Death Penalty Opinion (by the Death Penalty Information Center)

Death Penalty Opinion (by Gallup)

Class notes, Spring 2009 (public opinion)

The Future of Capital Punishment

In June 2004, the death penalty in New York was ruled unconstitutional by the New York Supreme Court, as can be read here:

New York Death Penalty Law Declared Unconstitutional (by the Death Penalty Information Center)

Then in April 2005, the New York State Assembly issued a report outlining important issues pertaining to capital punishment in the state, which can be read here:

The Death Penalty in New York (by the New York State Assembly)

As of now the state has failed to correct the problems with the state's death penalty statute, thus there is no capital punishment in the state.

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In December 2007, New Jersey became the first state in four decades to abolish the death penalty by an act of its legislature. The state abolished capital punishment after a report was commissioned by the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission, which can be read here:

New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission Report

News accounts of the state's actions can be read here, including consideration of the implications of this decision for the future of capital punishment in the United States:

Death Penalty Repealed in New Jersey (by the New York Times)

New Jersey: A Death Penalty Trend? (by Time)

New Jersey Leads on Capital Punishment (by the Nation)

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In March 2009, New Mexico also abolished the death penalty by an act of its legislature, as can be read here:

New Mexico Governor Abolishes Capital Punishment (by Yahoo News)

Governor Bill Richardson Signs Repeal of the Death Penalty (statement by the Governor)

The Application of the Death Penalty in New Mexico (by the Death Penalty Information Center)

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What are the implications of these decisions for the future of capital punishment in the United States?

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