Simon To Quinn: Abolish The Death Penalty
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM/CBS) -- Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is urging Gov. Pat Quinn to abolish the death penalty in Illinois.
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In a letter that she sent to Quinn this week, Simon points out that she spent four years as an assistant state's attorney in Jackson County in southern Illinois.
She feels that she did a good job in that post, but she also says that our criminal justice system – even operating at its best – is imperfect.
In urging to Quinn to sign the death penalty ban recently passed by the Illinois General Assembly, Simon noted that since the death penalty was reinstated in 1977, 20 people sentenced to death in Illinois have been freed because they were later found innocent, or because the cases against them collapsed.
Quinn has not said whether he will sign or veto the legislation against the death penalty.
Quinn has said he supports the death penalty when properly applied, but he hasn't lifted the moratorium. He said he wants to hear from constituents and would follow his conscience.
If Quinn signs the bill, it will go into effect July 1, the Daily Herald reported.
