December 2025 Update

Since 2016, New Hampshire has experienced a steady decrease in the overall violent crime rate nothwithstanding our state’s wise decision to repeal the death penalty in 2019. For this reason alone, it is puzzling to try to understand why a vast array of lawmakers submitted not one or two but four different bills seeking to re-instate the death penalty. In response, NHCADP is mobilizing our partners to defeat these unhelpful, fiscally irresponsible attempts to address an crime issue that does not exist in the Granite State.

To learn more about the bills and their progress through the 2026 legislative session, please go to “2026 Legislation” under Issues on the menu bar.

November 2025 Update

In 2019, after twenty years of educational and political efforts, the New Hampshire legislature voted by an overwhelming majority to repeal New Hampshire’s death penalty. The reasons were many. The death penalty does not protect public safety or public officials. It is applied in a racially and economically discriminatory manner. It extends the trauma already experienced by the loved ones of homicide victims. It diverts resources from measures that could reduce crime. Its fair application would require the judicial system to be infallible, which we know from example is not the case. And it violates the moral codes taught by most ethical and religious traditions. Now, several legislators have said they will introduce bills in 2026 to bring back the death penalty. It is time once again to educate our legislators that state-sponsored killing has no place in the laws of our state.

Arnie Alpert, Chair
NHCADP Board of Directors

In Memorium

Renny Cushing (1952-2022)

On March 7, 2022, NHCADP lost its longtime leader and inspiration, Renny Cushing. We miss him dearly but celebrate the impact his work has had on so many people in New Hampshire and beyond. Here is an article about Renny distributed by his colleagues at the Death Penalty Information Center.

Warm wishes,

Mandy Merrill, NHCADP board chair