The League of Women Voters of New York State opposes the death penalty.  We believe that New York State, as part of a civilized society in the 21^st century, should not be executing people.  Almost all developed countries have abolished the death penalty.  The League joins in the call for abolition of the death penalty, with the use of life without parole as the primary alternative.

Should the legislature consider reestablishment of the death penalty, the League urges the creation of a state commission to study factors including, but not limited to, the following before a decision is made:

• Adequate mechanisms for introducing new evidence,

• Powers given to the county District Attorney in seeking the death penalty,

• Racial, ethnic and economic issues of defendants and victims (including data from other states),

• Geographic inequities in New York law,

• Costs of death penalty versus life in prison,

• Equitable justice for all defendants,

• Reliability of evidence in New York criminal convictions, and

• Human rights aspects of state killing.

If the New York State Legislature and Governor reestablish the death penalty statute, the League supports the exclusion of the following categories of people:

• Mentally ill,

• Developmentally disabled, and

• Under 18 years of age at the time of the crime.

The League further believes that any death penalty law should require proof of guilt “beyond any doubt,” rather than “beyond a reasonable doubt.”