Illinois Is One Signature Away From Ending the Death Penalty

Posted on Jan 11, 2011

Flickr / World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (CC-BY-SA)

Activists in Paris demonstrate against capital punishment in 2008.

If Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, signs off on the legislation, Illinois will become the 16th state to eliminate the death penalty. The state has not executed anyone since 1999, after it was discovered that innocent convicts had been put to death.

Reuters:

Governor Quinn’s spokeswoman, Annie Thompson, said the governor plans to review the legislation once it arrives at his desk. Quinn has said he supports the death penalty for the worst crimes. He has also said it is important that innocent people are not executed and that he would keep the moratorium in place.

State Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, a Democrat who supported the ban, said he believes Quinn will “likely sign” the ban.

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