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Death Penalty Abolition |
The League of Women Voters of Illinois supports the abolition
of the death penalty in Illinois. This position opposing
capital punishment was adopted in 2001. It allows the LWVIL and
local Leagues in Illinois to advocate for the abolition of the death
penalty and to support reforms which could lead to abolition.
Arguments for the Abolition of the Death Penalty:
- Inadequate legal representation is a better
predictor of who is sentenced to death than the facts of the crime.
- The death penalty system is prone to error
to an extent that is unacceptable.
- That innocent people are being killed is not only possible but likely. The error
rate and the fact than any number of the exonerated were saved by luck or at the last
minute points to an unacceptable risk of killing innocent people.
- The death penalty cannot be adequately reformed. Legislation
cannot correct flaws such as: eyewitness error, false
testimony, police and prosecutorial misconduct, arbitrariness
(factors such as geography, race, and class).
- The international community is moving toward abolition
of the death penalty.
- The death penalty is costly and quite often does not deliver
the promised “ultimate justice.” The death penalty is much more
expensive than its closest alternative—life imprisonment with
no parole.
Further Discussion of these Arguments
Additional Resources:
- Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
- State
Leagues and the Death Penalty ~ A list of State Leagues which
have adopted positions on the death penalty or have responded to the
death penalty situations in their states in some way.
-
LWVUS Death Penalty discussion list ~ A link that enables
you to join the discussion of this issue, if you are
a League member. (Note: You will be asked to sign in
with your email address and password.)
- Resources from LWV National Convention 2006
~ The materials used to persuade convention delegates to adopt
the position, "The League of Women Voters of the United
States supports the abolition of the death penalty." The
national League now is able to act upon federal death penalty
legislation and, in addition, all state
Leagues can take action opposing the death penalty in their states.
Direct your questions and comments about the Death Penalty issue to
Janet Kittlaus at dpabolition@lwvil.org.
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League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL)
332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1150 | Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 312-939-5935 | Fax: 312-939-6887 | info@lwvil.org
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