Statement from AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox on NJ Death Penalty Study Comission

[Please also see the post below!]

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA
PRESS RELEASE

January 3 , 2007


Amnesty International Urges New Jersey Legislature to Heed State Commission's Recommendation to Abolish Death Penalty


(Washington, DC) Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA, issued the following statement in response to the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission report: "The commission's recommendation to abolish the death penalty is a welcome development. The arc of justice is bending toward eliminating this inherently flawed system. We now urge the New Jersey legislature to end the death penalty once and for all. "Amnesty International endorses the report's finding that the death penalty does not help victims' families. We strongly agree with its statement that 'sufficient funds should be dedicated to ensure adequate services and advocacy for the families of murder victims.' "The commission's work confirms a growing trend: the more people learn about the death penalty, the more opposed to it they are." For more information on Amnesty International USA's work on the death penalty, please see http://amnestyusa.org/abolish/.

Contact: Jason Opeña Disterhoft at 202-544-0200 x302 or jdisterhoft@aiusa.org