Illinois Senate votes to abolish death penalty

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Updated: January 11, 2011 8:26PM

SPRINGFIELD — The future of the death penalty in Illinois is now up to Gov. Pat Quinn.

The state Senate voted Tuesday to abolish the death penalty. It now goes to the governor’s desk.

Abolition passed the Senate 32-25.

It’s not clear what Quinn will do with the bill. The Chicago Democrat supports the death penalty but he also has continued the long-standing moratorium on executions.

Death penalty critics point to Illinois’ record of wrongly convicting innocent people. They say flaws in the system mean an innocent person could be executed.

Supporters of capital punishment say Illinois has created new safeguards. They also say execution should be kept as a deterrent and a bargaining chip to get confessions.

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The bill is SB3539.

Online: http://www.ilga.gov

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Online:

http://www.ilga.gov