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Capital Punishment Reform in Illinois
From: University of Chicago | By: Tom SullivanFrank McGarrMichael J. WallerPaul SimonTracy Meares

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION | Can the death penalty be fixed? This was the monumental question that the 14-member Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment tackled during two years of extensive analysis of Illinois' capital punishment system. The commission, appointed in March 2000, was created by Republican Governor George Ryan after he declared a moratorium on executions in a system "fraught with error." At the May 6, 2002, panel discussion at the University of Chicago Law School, former members of the commission, joined by Professor of Law Tracy Meares, discussed the recommendations outlined in the report, which was completed in April 2002.

Former US attorney Tom Sullivan begins the panel discussion--named for Hans Ziesel, a prominent University of Chicago scholar who studied capital punishment reform--with an overview of the Commission on Capital Punishment.
(4:52 min)

Former federal judge Frank McGarr briefly outlines the 85 recommendations for change in the capital punishment system in Illinois set forth by the Commission, including reducing the number of death eligibility factors and videotaping interrogations of homicide suspects.
(15:33 min)

Lake County State's Attorney Michael J. Waller is asked by Sullivan to discuss qualms he has with certain recommendations, such as the recommendation for sequential rather than the traditional non-sequential lineups conducted with eyewitnesses.
(7:12 min)

Sullivan elaborates on the Commission's decision to recommend that sequential lineup and photo spread procedures be implemented.
(5:56 min)

Former U.S. senator Paul Simon discusses the financial costs of capital punishment and the likelihood that these recommendations will be approved by the Illinois legislature and state legislatures across the country.
(6:31 min)

Sullivan comments further on the costs of capital punishment, citing studies that show that the cost of carrying out a death sentence is greater than the cost of incarcerating a prisoner for life.
(3:24 min)

Tracy Meares speaks about the ripple effect of legislative change that she anticipates will be generated by the recommendations.
(6:09 min)

Sullivan presents closing remarks before opening the floor to questions from the audience. Discussion topics range from the use of post-trial exculpatory evidence to victim's issues.
(12:36 min)

The question-and-answer portion of the panel continues, with panelists discussing the prospects of "perfecting" an imperfect system.
(19:18 min)

Relevant Links

Report of the Illinois Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment
(www.idoc.state.il.us/ccp/ccp/reports/commission_reports.html)

Additional information on the Illinois death penalty
(www.state.il.us/defender/dpenalty.html)



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