Connecticut has ended the death sentence, becoming the fifth state in the U.S. in five years to repeal the cruel and inhuman punishment as the abolition movement progresses worldwide.
“These funds can be better spent to address crime and offer support to victims, rather than on bankrolling a punishment that has been rejected by more than 140 countries and 16 U.S. states.”
Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director, Amnesty International U.S.A.
We think this is great news and signals a leap forward in our campaign to end death penalty. This move will free resources in Connecticut to be directed toward policies that truly prevent crime, and support the needs of crime victims and their families. The relatives of 179 murder victims signed a letter of support for the bill.
Connecticut’s lawmakers passed the vote after ten and a half hours of debate by 20 votes to 16. The Governor of Connecticut, Dannel Malloy, described the death penalty as one of the “most compelling and vexing issues of our time”, as he signed the bill to replace the death sentence with life without parole for all new cases.
Connecticut joins 16 other states in America – nearly a third of all U.S. states, and 97 countries worldwide – to have now abandoned the death penalty.
More information at Amnesty International’s page here.
AUSTRALIANS AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT 