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Legislative Director Mary Dixon is Awesome
Our friends at the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty celebrated the end of the death penalty last night – and took a moment to honor ACLU Legislative Director... Continue reading
Death Penalty Reinstatement Bills: Status Update
On March 17th, the ACLU of Illinois submitted testimony to the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee regarding House Bills 1519 and 1738 (Amendment 2) which would reinstate the death penalty... Continue reading
Statement on Reinstatement of the Death Penalty in Illinois
In order for the State of Illinois to take a life, the State must do so fairly, rationally and without the threat of taking an innocent life. There are insufficient safeguards in our criminal justice system to insure that this is how the law is carried out in Illinois. From 1977 to 2000, Illinois executed 12 inmates but freed 13 from Death Row. The 13 freed individuals had their convictions overturned and some were completely exonerated. In the 10 years since the Moratorium, seven more inmates have been released from Death Row – only Florida has released more exonerated defendants. The irrevocability of the death penalty counsels against accepting a system with a demonstrably significant rate of error. We cannot guarantee that our death penalty will not make a fatal mistake and take an innocent life.
Act Now! Push Death Penalty Repeal in Illinois Past the Finish Line
Randy Steidl is one of 20 men who’ve been exonerated and released from Illinois’ death row in recent years. Last Tuesday, he and I sat just a few feet apart... Continue reading
Download the Brief
The latest copy of the Illinois Brief, the ACLU of Illinois’ quarterly newsletter, is available for download. This issue covers important current issues like civil unions, repeal of the death... Continue reading
Finally… Illinois Death Penalty Repeal Awaits Gov. Quinn’s Signature
Cross-posted at the Blog of Rights On Tuesday, January 11, the Illinois Senate acted to address a national embarrassment for the state — our failed death penalty system. By a... Continue reading
Breaking: Victory! Illinois Senate Votes to End the Death Penalty
Springfield, IL – Just a few minutes ago, the Illinois Senate approved Senate Bill 3539 — ending the broken death penalty system in Illinois. With the earlier House action approving... Continue reading
A “Near-Death Experience” for Death Penalty Abolition in Illinois
On Thursday afternoon, the Illinois House of Representatives was a raucous place — with talk of a deal on a tax increase, Medicaid reform and proposed budget cuts all sweeping... Continue reading
Breaking: House votes to end Illinois’ broken death penalty system
January 6, 2010 6:40 p.m. – Springfield, IL – Just a few minutes ago, after an initial vote failed, the Illinois House voted to end Illinois’ expensive, broken death penalty... Continue reading
Big Moves in Springfield
I came down to Springfield this morning with ACLU of Illinois Executive Director Colleen Connell and Board President Jill Metz to join the rest of the ACLU team as we... Continue reading
