The Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty has issued a new report, “Questioning a Broken System: Capital Punishment in Illinois in 2003,” an in-depth review of capital punishment in Illinois following actions by the former governor and the legislature to address systemic flaws in the state’s death penalty system. The report notes that prosecutors continue to aggressively seek the death penalty, but public skepticism is growing over the use of capital punishment. For example, 80% of jurors who considered imposing a death sentence in 2003 rejected it, and only two death sentences were handed down throughout the year.
The report includes the following sections:
- The reaction of the public to former Governor Ryan’s death row commutations and pardons, and the effect of the ongoing death penalty crisis on public opinion.
- The results of State’s Attorney’s offices bringing death penalty cases in greater Illinois.
- The results of the Cook County State’s Attorney office bringing death penalty cases.
- The costs associated with continued use of the death penalty.
- Legislative efforts to reform the capital punishment system.
- Exonerations and investigations of the capital punishment system.