Considering Abolition in Illinois

Victims' family members are among those testifying at an Illinois hearing on a bill that would abolish the state's death penalty. Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, who has taken a lead in organizing testimony for the hearing, writes, "This is a significant occasion because it is the first time in a decade that the Illinois legislature has taken up the question of abolition in an official hearing. Every major newspaper in the state is now supporting abolition, and there is bi-partisan support for abolition legislation." Jeanne Bishop adds that the hearings "come at time when cash-strapped Illinois, facing a budget crisis, is considering whether its staggeringly expensive death penalty is worth the cost."