Death Penalty Reform Approved in Illinois

By JOHN O'CONNOR,

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - State lawmakers adopted a measure Friday to make Illinois' death penalty system fairer, virtually assuring a sweeping overhaul of the capital punishment process will go to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The House bill covers many of the recommendations made by a commission appointed by then-Gov. George Ryan, who suspended all executions in 2000 and cleared out death row of all 167 inmates at the end of his term earlier this year.

The measure makes it easier for murder defendants to get evidence that could help them in their trials, allows judges to second-guess jury death sentences and lets the Supreme Court set aside sentences it deems unjust.

It also sets up a pilot program for police to videotape interrogations and prohibits executing the mentally retarded.

The bill goes back to the Senate for consideration of House amendments, but passage was all but assured.

"This is a good bill. We probably should have done it earlier, but we didn't. We're doing it now," said the bill's sponsor, Republican Leader Tom Cross.

Blagojevich, a Democrat, has already stated his support for taped interrogations but has not said he whether backs the broader reforms.

He has also said he will continue the death penalty moratorium because he is not convinced the reforms will make the system safe enough.