Illinois governor questions purpose of death penalty

Illinois Gov. George Ryan, once a supporter of the death penalty, said Thursday that he's no longer clear about its purpose.

"I question why the death penalty is a proper societal response," he said. "Is it a deterrent, or is it an appeasement to the victim's families? I don't know."

 Ryan spoke to students at UNC's School of Law at the request of the school's Innocence Project, in which law and journalism students analyze death penalty cases in North Carolina, where 208 people are on death row.

 The Republican described the thinking that led him to place a moratorium on executions in his state three years ago. The decision sparked a widespread re-examination of death penalty cases.

 "I couldn't comprehend how the justice system was so fraught with error," said Ryan, who leaves the governor's office in early January. "I had no other choice but to stop the executions."

 From 1977 to 2000, Illinois sentenced 25 people to death. Slowly, the cases were reviewed, and in many cases, court decisions were overturned. Ultimately, 13 people on death row were found to be innocent through DNA testing, closer analysis of testimony or for other reasons.

 After the 13th such decision, Ryan instituted his moratorium and created a state commission to look in detail at the state's justice system. The commission that examined the issue put forth 85 recommendations, ranging from changes in evidence and lineup procedures to a suggestion that interrogations be videotaped.

 "I can understand making a mistake once, even twice. But 13 times? Something's wrong," Ryan said. "We've had more people exonerated from death row than the 12 we've put to death. It's like flipping a coin. Is that justice?"

 Ryan praised efforts such as UNC's Innocence Project and a similar initiative at Duke, the North Carolina Center for Actual Innocence. It isn't glamorous work, he cautioned, but it is courageous.