Talking Points for Action

This week, we want to share with you some talking points that you can use when speaking to people about why it's time for Illinois to repeal the death penalty.

The time for repeal is now. It’s become clear in 10 years of a moratorium that the death penalty system is still broken and it cannot be fixed. The death penalty is a public policy that risks executing the innocent, fails to meet the needs of murder victims’ families, and costs millions of dollars more than alternatives.

We Make Mistakes. There have been 20 men exonerated from Illinois’ death row after evidence of their innocence emerged. This is the second highest exoneration rate in the nation. It is clear we cannot guarantee that our death penalty system will not make a fatal mistake and take an innocent life.

Too Expensive. Since its creation in 1999, we’ve spent well over $100 million dollars on the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. We can’t afford to spend millions on the death penalty when other vital services are being cut.

Ignores the Needs of Murder Victims’ Families. While victims’ services in Illinois are underfunded, which hurts all murder victims, we spend millions of dollars on a death penalty system that affects less than 1% of murders. Those victims’ families that have capital cases endure excessively long and publicized trials then are forced to wait for years and years for an execution – if one comes at all.

Doesn’t Stop Crime! In a 2009 National survey, police chiefs ranked the death penalty dead last in terms of effective tools to prevent violent crime. Study after study shows the death penalty does not deter crime. If we’re serious about stopping crime, we should invest in tools that work – the death penalty doesn’t.

For more detailed reasons it's time to Repeal the Death Penalty, visit our page: http://www.icadp.org/content/why-repeal-death-penalty