Death Penalty and Innocence
Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to evidence of their wrongful convictions. In 2003 alone, 10 wrongfully convicted defendants were released from death row.
"I cannot support a system which, in its administration, has proven so fraught with error and has come so close to the ultimate nightmare, the state's taking of innocent life... Until I can be sure that everyone sentenced to death in Illinois is truly guilty, until I can be sure with moral certainty that no innocent man or woman is facing a lethal injection, no one will meet that fate."
--Governor George Ryan of Illinois, January 2000, in declaring a moratorium on executions in his state, after the 13th Illinois death row inmate had been released from prison due to wrongful conviction. In the same time period, 12 others had been executed. (photo © AFP)
Thinking Time!!
Do you guys agree with the statement that Governor George Ryan made here? Do you think that the system has proven to be a faulty one? Do you think it's as faulty now as it was in 2000? (which was when the statement was made.) Have you come to a decision? Now , consider this...between 1973 and 2008, Illinois had the second highest number of death penalty inmates wrongfully convicted and exonerated (a staggering 18.56 % of their inmates.), only lead by Florida which had 22.68%. These are the people that managed to get away with their lives. They are the lucky ones. NOW answer the question I asked above. Do you think other states should put a moratorium on the death penalty like the one Gov. Ryan was pushing for? 
I agree with you totally
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