Abolishing the Death Penalty

Public Act 96-1543

"I think this country would be much better off if we did not have capital punishment…. We cannot ignore the fact that a disturbing number of inmates on death row have been exonerated."

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens

"Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

J. R. R. Tolkien

View The Portrait

On March 9, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to abolish the death penalty in Illinois.

View the Governor’s Office Statement from Governor Quinn on Senate Bill 3539.

View NPR's "Illinois Abolishes The Death Penalty".

View USA Today's Illinois abolishes death penalty, clears death row

View the New York Times' article on Quinn abolishing the death penalty.

View the Chicago Tribune's "What killed Illinois' death penalty", noting that if Bill Brady were elected, it would have been much different.