Chicago Sun-Times

ILLINOIS: Ryan sets dates to meet with families of victims

While he considers clemency for Illinois' condemned killers, Gov. Ryan has confirmed he will meet with murder victims' families to hear firsthand why he shouldn't clear death row.

 Two dates are scheduled for next month in Chicago and Springfield, when the governor will come face-to-face with family members whose emotional stories of grief dominated last month's clemency hearings.

 But it won't be a one-on-one type of encounter. Instead, the governor will meet in private with groups of family members who have expressed an interest in airing their thoughts to Ryan, spokesman Dennis Culloton said.

 "The governor is trying to be sensitive to family members here. He wants them to know he's been paying attention to their testimony and submissions to the Prisoner Review Board," he said. "If anyone wants to make sure they can make a direct appeal, they'll have an opportunity to."

 In September, Culloton indicated the governor did not intend to meet with family members after the Chicago Sun-Times quoted one relative seeking that very thing. Thursday, the governor's aide said he could not recall making that statement.

 "As far as I've known, the governor has always planned to meet with them," he said.

 The governor will host a Dec. 6 gathering in Springfield and a follow-up on Dec. 11 in Chicago. Culloton could not say how much time on either day the governor would be willing to devote to meeting family members.

 At least one victim's relative, however, expressed reservations with the governor's plan to meet with family members en masse, an approach that could turn unwieldy if there is a crowd and everyone wants to speak.

 "It almost sounds like it'll be an arguing match because everyone will be wanting to tell their case," said Jacalyn Arnold, the mother of Debra Evans.

 Evans was murdered along with 2 of her children in Addison by two Death Row inmates seeking clemency.

 "If his intent is to explain what he's doing, I don't think that'll work. I think people will try to say a lot more to him," Arnold said.

 A spokesman for Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine said the prosecutor has questions about how the governor intends to handle family members at the meetings, but he believes their input is essential.

 "The governor needs to hear from these families, to hear their grief and for them to tell details of the crimes. No one knows the details of these crimes better than the victims," Devine spokesman John Gorman said.

 Culloton said the governor's office intends to contact those who either spoke to or sent letters to the Prisoner Review Board, informing them of the meeting dates and locations. Any relative not notified can call the governor's Chicago office for details and is welcome at the events, Culloton said. The telephone number is (312) 814-2121.

 Ryan's aide said there also is a move afoot for the governor to meet with the family members of those on death row, but a date and location for such a meeting hasn't been set.