New York, January 16, 2006) – New Jersey’s governor tomorrow is scheduled to sign into law a temporary moratorium on the death penalty in the state. Governor Richard Codey and state legislators should now move forward to permanently abolish this arbitrary and inherently cruel punishment, Human Rights Watch said today.
This moratorium will remain in place at least until a commission appointed by the governor reports on the cost and fairness of the state’s death penalty. Currently, there are 10 people on death row in New Jersey.