« "Kidney parole condition raises ethical questions" | Main | Washington Post rightly assials "Mr. Obama's lackluster pardons" »
December 31, 2010
Illinois state prosecutors lobbying to preserve state's death penalty
As detailed in this local Illinois piece, "Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz and Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons are asking residents in their counties to call local legislators and 'tell them to not support this politically motivated effort to circumvent the will of the people.'" Here's more:
“As State’s Attorneys, we have a special duty to seek justice,” the letter stated. “Regardless of personal feelings about whether or not the death penalty is good or bad, the political efforts currently being used to abolish the state’s ultimate punishment are, without question, offensive to justice. This is a last second effort to cram an extremely sensitive issue through a tiny political hole without public input.”...
Umholtz and Lyons said that proponents claim that natural life without parole is an adequate punishment, “Yet they work to pass legislation allowing compassionate release parole to inmates, including murderers, even those given life sentences. Proponents falsely claim substantial savings will occur in abolishing the death penalty by reducing the cost for appeals, apparently believing that criminals facing a life behind bars won’t challenge their convictions.”
December 31, 2010 at 11:17 AM | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e20148c73371a2970c
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Illinois state prosecutors lobbying to preserve state's death penalty:
Comments
I am a student. Why can't the prosecutors pull their collective head out of the sand? Some of these people are elderly and/or disabled. Many have served decades behind bars and have changed. It is no longer about punishment for the crime, but, punishment and banishment for life. We are sadly in need of a new batch of prosecutors. Ones who see the world and crime for what it is. Many criminals are the product of society. Look at sex offenders, we say we are not responsible, but everything sold today is about sex appeal. Many gang bangers are just looking for families and a way to belong. The core unit, the family, no longer exists. They are seeking a way to bve nutured. People steal to feed themselves or their habit. Why do they have a habit, because there is no nuturing. When will society wake up? I say that we should fire this illinois idiot and replace him and his cadre with people who understand how these broken people got where they are today. Many cannot be fixed, that is true. But, we must acknowledge what got them where they are and accept our responsibility in their demise. Society today wants retribution for everything. Why? Because they believe out of sight is out of mind. However, they can't and won't accept their own responsibility for these "lower than low" being where they are. Society, prosecutors, judges, law enforcement, and especially the media need to recognize the role that they have played in causing these people to be where they are today.
I realize that this is going to upset many. However, I believe in what I have stated. If you have an arguement, bring it on.
Posted by: Darrell | Dec 31, 2010 1:27:36 PM
Darrell --
"Many gang bangers are just looking for families and a way to belong."
Then by all means adopt one.
With "analysis" like that, I wouldn't think of trying to argue with you, being happy to let you keep talking without interruption.
Posted by: Bill Otis | Jan 1, 2011 11:10:19 AM
"Look at sex offenders, we say we are not responsible, but everything sold today is about sex appeal."
You believe sex in the media leads to men becoming rapists and pedophiles? Are you insane?
Posted by: MikeinCT | Jan 2, 2011 12:07:38 AM
Chicago murder rate reaches 45 year low, police data show
Chicago Tribune January 1, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-chicago-murder-totals-20110101,0,397920.story
Posted by: claudio giusti, italia | Jan 2, 2011 12:49:50 PM
While I do not support any criminal activity, by all accounts the death penalty does not offer any restoration for any victims family. Being sentenced to life for a life is not alway the best decision either.
Please don't misunderstand me there should certainly be a punishment 25 years or more depending on the crime as it is a case-by-case. I say this because in the State of Illinois e.g. you have one person who murders a caucasian man, gets sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, who happens to be a (24 year old African American).
Example case 2. You have a person who commits a double murder and 1 attempted muder person just so happen to be (African American) served their time walking around free as a bird and is now a productive law abiding citizen, as they have served their time in prison.
Example case 3. The "Frank Calabese case the person just so happen to be (Italian) same State Illinois murdered 11 people, he was sentenced to life in prison". prior to that he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Lets us not fool ourselves there is something wrong with this type of sentencing. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/mob-hitman-frank-calabres_n_162048.html
In addition, in no way am I predjudice when it comes to people, all I see is people, not color as we are all human. " For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people." The Holy Bible King Jame Version-
I posted this comment as food for thought and a eye opener and a sample of my documentary on murder cases in the State of Illinois we need to be fair and examine much closer what is called truth in sentencing...these types of sentences lack substance, evidence and truth.
Posted by: Pamela | Mar 12, 2011 6:34:59 PM
