Illinois Commission on Capital Punishment
Troubled by evidence of the Illinois death penalty system’s failings, Gov. George Ryan in January 2000 called for a moratorium on executions and created a bi-partisan commission to “ensure that the Illinois capital punishment system is fair, just and accurate.” Among other indicators of the inaccuracy and unfairness of the system was the fact that Illinois executed 12 men while exonerating 13 from death row in the 25 years since the death penalty was restored in the state.
Over the course of two years, the Illinois Commission on Capital Punishment studied the problems in the system, conducted interviews with victims’ families and death row exonerees, and reviewed findings and recommendations from studies in other states. In April of 2002, the Commission released its report containing 85 recommendations for improvements to the capital punishment system, including improvements to eyewitness identification protocols, increased videotaping of interrogations and other crucial procedural reforms.
Upon receiving the report, Gov. Ryan submitted the recommendations to the state legislature for implementation. While some recommendations have been adopted, many still need to be addressed. Upon leaving office in 2003, Gov. Ryan, believing that Illinois’ system was still “broken,” commuted the sentences of the remaining 167 people on death row.
