Russ Feingold: “I rise today to give my perspective on the recent decision by Illinois Governor George Ryan to pardon four death row…”

“I rise today to give my perspective on the recent decision by Illinois Governor George Ryan to pardon four death row inmates and to commute the death sentences of 167 other death row inmates. His action effectively clears Illinois' death row, the eighth largest death row in the Nation. It is the broadest clemency of death row inmates ever granted by a Governor. I understand that there are some, particularly, State prosecutors and victims' families, who are unhappy with Governor Ryan's decision. I understand that victims' families who support capital punishment have, justifiably, very strong feelings. But these 167 inmates are not walking free. They won't be executed, but almost all of them will spend the rest of their lives behind bars without the possibility of parole. But it also means that if, in fact, it is shown in the near future they did not commit murder, they still have the chance to be set free. Many murderers do not receive the death penalty, even in Illinois. Indeed, the Illinois Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment found that decisions to put these particular individuals on death row, while sparing others, were not made by a system that meets basic standards of fairness and justice. Fairness and justice, those are the principles that should guide our criminal justice system, especially the administration of the death penalty.”