State's Attorney Berlin Responds to Quinn's Decision to Abolish the Death Penalty in Illinois

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin criticized Gov. Pat Quinn's decision to abolish the death penalty in Illinois Wednesday, calling it a "victory for murderers across Illinois." He said, "Violent offenders can now murder police officers, kill victims during forcible felonies, kill multiple victims, and kill witnesses without fear of receiving the death penalty.

It is truly unfortunate when our General Assembly plays politics with public safety. Supporters of this bill carefully pushed the bill through a lame duck legislature by the narrowest of margins with the help of many legislators who completely ignored their constituency. The families of victims were not given an opportunity to voice their opinion. Despite the fact that the Governor’s Capital Punishment Reform Study Committee has concluded that death penalty reforms are working, Governor Quinn has overlooked the work of the commission and rejected the argument that certain murders are so brutal and heinous that the only appropriate punishment is the death penalty. Despite the fact that the death penalty deters murderers, Governor Quinn has decided to abolish it.

Governor Quinn’s decision to commute the death sentences of the fifteen convicted murderers currently on death row without following the prescribed statutory procedure for executive clemency and without any notice to or input from the families of the victims is further evidence of Governor Quinn’s complete disregard for the victims and their surviving family members, as well as the decisions of the juries in these horrendous cases.

The General Assembly and Governor Quinn have disregarded the fact that Illinois now has one of the fairest death penalty statutes in the Country. By signing this bill today, Governor Quinn has ignored the will of the people, the majority of whom favor capital punishment for the worst of the worst. While prosecutors across the State will continue to seek justice, the reality is that for certain crimes that are so horrific and evil that they shock the conscience of the community, the people of this State will be denied a full measure of justice."