New Jersey abolishes death penalty

TRENTON, N.J., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine on Monday signed into law a bill abolishing the death penalty in the state.

With his signature, New Jersey became the first state to repeal its death penalty in the modern era of capital punishment, the Newark Star-Ledger reported.

"Today New Jersey is truly evolving," Corzine said during a signing ceremony. "I believe society first must determine if its endorsement of violence begets violence. ... To that, I answer yes. Therefore we must evolve to stop endorsing violence."

Corzine signed a bill that was fast-tracked through the State Legislature, making its way through committee hearings and passage by both the Senate and Assembly by narrow majorities in two weeks, the newspaper said .

New Jersey hasn't carried out an execution in 44 years. Since the Legislature reinstated the death penalty in 1982, eight men have been sentenced to death. Bill sponsors said death row inmates would have their sentences commuted to life in prison without possibility of parole.