The Death Penalty in New Jersey

How New Jersey law treats death penalty, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: New Jersey law does not provide for the death penalty. Under the murder statute, the harshest sentence is life imprisonment without parole, which applies to murder of a law enforcement officer on duty, murder of a child under 18 during a sexual assault, and murder with listed aggravating… N.J.S. 2C:11-3(b)-(h)

Death penalty	New Jersey law does not provide for the death penalty. Under the murder statute, the harshest sentence is life imprisonment without parole, which applies to murder of a law enforcement officer on duty, murder of a child under 18 during a sexual assault, and murder with listed aggravating factors found by a jury (such as a prior murder, torture, murder for hire, or murder of a child under 14). Other murders carry 30 years without parole or a term between 30 years and life with 30 years served before parole. The statute's former capital-sentencing subsections (c through h) were deleted by P.L.2007, c.204. Source: N.J.S. 2C:11-3(b)-(h)

Death penalty

New Jersey law does not provide for the death penalty. Under the murder statute, the harshest sentence is life imprisonment without parole, which applies to murder of a law enforcement officer on duty, murder of a child under 18 during a sexual assault, and murder with listed aggravating factors found by a jury (such as a prior murder, torture, murder for hire, or murder of a child under 14). Other murders carry 30 years without parole or a term between 30 years and life with 30 years served before parole. The statute's former capital-sentencing subsections (c through h) were deleted by P.L.2007, c.204.

Source: N.J.S. 2C:11-3(b)-(h)

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FAQ

Does New Jersey have the death penalty?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.