Gov. Pat Quinn said his decision on whether to abolish the death penalty in Illinois will come within a few weeks.
And, at that time, the governor will decide the fate of the 15 inmates currently on death row.
The governor is the only state official authorized to commute death sentences.
Lawmakers last month passed a measure that would end the death penalty in Illinois, but the legislation excludes the 15 inmates now on death row. That point was noted to Quinn, and he was asked if he was considering commuting the sentences of those inmates.
"I'm going to make a decision on everything at the right time - it won't be that long from now - but I do think it's important to have a period of reflection and review, and that's what we're doing," Quinn said Friday.
Lawmakers narrowly approved the abolition measure during the lame-duck session after a long and frequently emotional debate. Supporters of the legislation pointed to multiple death row exonerations, while opponents argued the threat of capital punishment is a tool used by law enforcement to garner confessions and pleas.
The state constitution allows the governor 60 days to act on legislation after it is sent to his desk, or it becomes law without his signature. The proposal was sent to Quinn on Jan. 18.
Quinn said his decision will come in "a few weeks." In the meantime, he said he has taken time to "listen to the dialogue of the people, reflect and pray."
"I've had meetings in my office with a variety of different law enforcement people, as well as private individuals, people from the faith community," Quinn said. "I encourage anyone in Illinois with an opinion on this subject to e-mail me, mail me letters."
Quinn has said in the past that he supports capital punishment for the most heinous of crimes, but he also has kept in place the moratorium on the death penalty imposed in 2000 by former Gov. George Ryan. Ryan in January 2003 then cleared out death row, commuting the sentences of all inmates.
Source: The Southern, Feb. 7, 2011
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