{"id":374969,"date":"2024-09-16T12:25:21","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T17:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-capital-punishment-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-09-16T12:34:32","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T17:34:32","slug":"new-jersey-capital-punishment-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-capital-punishment-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Capital Punishment Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Jersey Capital Punishment Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007. Today, the most severe consequence of a criminal conviction in the state is life in prison without parole.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

The New Jersey legislature passed a bill in 2007 to ban the death penalty. After passing the New Jersey Senate and the General Assembly, Governor Jon Corzine signed it into law. In doing so, New Jersey became the 14th state to abolish the death penalty and the first state to do so since 1965. Now, the most severe criminal sentence under New Jersey law is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.<\/p>\r\n

History of the Death Penalty in New Jersey<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

New Jersey first enacted capital punishment laws in 1796. Four crimes imposed death sentences upon conviction:<\/p>\r\n