WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined members of
Congress, victims, and advocates to call for a nationwide moratorium on
the death penalty.
The
news conference was organized by U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.
(D-IL), chief sponsor of the Accuracy in Judicial Administration Act of
2000 (AJA). Schakowsky is an original cosponsor of AJA. This legislation
would institute a national moratorium on the death penalty until inmates
have had the opportunity to explore potentially exculpatory DNA and other
evidence.
“The
State should not be in the business of killing people, and most certainly,
innocent people. A national moratorium on the death penalty is about
due process and moral leadership and responsibility,” Schakowsky said.
“With
today’s advancements in science, how can we be certain that inmates on
death row are guilty if they are not allowed access to the latest technology
that can prove their innocence? Let us use the power of science to
save a life instead of taking it away,” Schakowsky added.
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. As a result, Illinois Governor George Ryan
has halted all executions until a panel can review the capital conviction
process.
“I
applaud Representative Jackson for his leadership on this issue and for
putting forth this legislation. It is a fair and objective approach,”
Schakowsky said. |