A non-partisan panel has released a report calling for New Jersey to take the death penalty off the books.

The 13-member commission was formed a few months ago to study various issues surrounding the death penalty, including morality, racial inequality and cost benefit analysis. The panel found for the past 23 years, taxpayers have spent more than $250 million on capital punishment. However, not one convicted criminal has been executed.

Senator Nicholas Asselta (R-District 1) strongly disagrees with the commission?s findings and the commission itself. Asselta believes the members wanted to abolish the death penalty before the study. However, the commission maintains the death penalty in New Jersey doesn?t make sense. It has recommended life without parole replace the death penalty as a punishment.