WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky
(D-IL) today hailed legislation introduced by Representatives
Ray LaHood (R-IL) and William Delahunt (D-MA) aimed at saving
the lives of innocent people. The Innocence Protection
Act of 2000 is a comprehensive package of criminal justice reforms that would
reduce the risk of innocent people being executed.
Schakowsky is an original
cosponsor.
Schakowsky joined the sponsors of the legislation,
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Illinois Governor George Ryan,
Kirk Bloodsworth, a death row inmate who was exonerated by DNA
evidence in 1993 and others at a news conference on Capitol
Hill.
"Since 1977, the State of Illinois has taken the life
of 12 death row inmates. During that same period, the
state exonerated 13 people on death row, including 4 in the
last 15 months. That is a frightening fact which could
have resulted in a mistake that the state could not fix,"
Schakowsky said.
"It is a fact that the nation is split on the death
penalty. It is also a fact that no one wants to see an
innocent person executed. We must ensure that innocent people
are not being put to death and that justice, equality, and due
process are the law of the land. The Innocence
Protection Act of 2000 is an important step in helping us
reach that goal," Schakowsky
added.
Schakowsky applauded Governor Ryan´s decision to halt
all executions until a panel can review the capital conviction
process. She also hailed the work of Northwestern
University students that lead to the exoneration of Ronald
Jones.
"Problems of inadequate representation, lack of access
to DNA testing, police misconduct, racial bias and other
errors are causing innocent people to be condemned to
die. That is unacceptable and immoral," Schakowsky
said.
The legislation would ensure that convicted offenders
are afforded an opportunity to prove their innocence through
DNA testing; help states provide competent legal services at
every state of a death penalty prosecution; enable those who
can prove their innocence to recover some measure of
compensation for their unjust incarceration; and limit the
Federal government´s authority to seek the death penalty in
States that do not permit the imposition of such
penalty.
In addition, the bill would give juries in Federal
death penalty prosecutions the option of sentencing defendants
to life without possibility of release; encourage states to
give juries in capital cases accurate information on the
available sentencing options; and provide the public with more
reliable and detailed information regarding the administration
of the nation´s capital punishment
laws. |