Which U.S. state was the first to abolish the death penalty and when?

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Which U.S. state was the first to abolish the death penalty and when?

Question #151791. Asked by Thesuperyoshi.
Last updated Oct 22 2024.
Originally posted Oct 20 2024 9:32 AM.

pehinhota

Answer has 6 votes

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pehinhota

11 year member
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Answer has 6 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

In 1846, Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason. Later, Rhode Island and Wisconsin abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

https://deathpenalty.procon.org/states-with-the-death-penalty-and-states-with-death-penalty-bans/

Oct 20 2024, 2:35 PM

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Answer 1

The legislation was passed on 18th May 1846 as Chapter 153, effective from 1st March 1847:

CHAPTER 153
OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE LIVES AND PERSONS OF INDIVIDUALS
Murder of the first degree
SECTION 1. All murder which shall be perpetrated by means of poison or lying in wait, or any other kind of wilful, deliberate, and premeditated killing, or which shall be committed in the perpetration, or attempt to perpetrate any arson, rape, robbery or burglary, shall be deemed murder of the first degree, and shall be punished by solitary confinement at hard labor in the state Prison for Life.
SEC. 2. All other kinds of murder shall be deemed murder of the second degree, and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life, or any term of years, in the discretion of the court trying the same.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433007045952&seq=680
Death for treason is above this, on the same page, as Chapter 152.

Which U.S. state was the first to abolish the death penalty and when?

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