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| Illinois Governor Says He May Reduce All Death Sentences to Life in Prison |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 09/16/2002 |
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The governor of Illinois, who has already put executions in Illinois on hold, says he is strongly considering commuting all death row inmates' sentences to life in prison. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board said last week it would review requests from 157 inmates who filed clemency petitions and recommend any changes to Gov. George Ryan. But Ryan said September 6 that commutation should be all or nothing. 'I don't know how I could pick and choose,' Ryan said. 'That's why I have to determine whether it's going to be for everybody or for nobody.' Anne Taylor, the review board's chairwoman, said the board will give every case a fair treatment; Ryan, who leaves office in January, promised to read all the board's recommendations. He also said state lawmakers could sway his decision by acting on changes to death penalty laws recommended by a panel he appointed. The governor put all executions on hold in January 2000 after a string of death row inmates were released. Since Illinois resumed capital punishment in 1977, 12 people have been executed and 13 other death sentences were overturned. In some cases, evidence showed they were innocent; in others, courts ruled that they received unfair trials. Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine called the governor's consideration 'irresponsible and an insult to the hundreds of victims' families who have lost a loved one due to violent crime.' |
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