NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS OUTGOING ILLINOIS’ GOVERNOR RYAN’S COMMUTATION OF 156 DEATH SENTENCES
ALEXANDRIA, VA – January 14, 2003 – The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) – the nation’s only organization representing state and local prosecutors – believes former Governor Ryan’s commutation of the death sentence of 156 violent criminals on death row is self serving and irresponsible. We condemn this conduct and the procedure used to reach these unjust results.
NDAA agrees with incoming Governor Rod Blagojevich’s statement that Gov. Ryan has made a “big mistake . . .this decision to do blanket clemency is wrong.”
Gov. Ryan leaves in his wake an unparalleld legacy of disregarding victims of crimes. His conduct re-victimizes the families of the innocent victims of these heinous criminals. Governor Ryan has undermined the criminal justice system as a whole. As prosecutors, we take pride in protecting the innocent and making sure that the guilty are held accountable for their actions. Governor Ryan did just the opposite,” said Dan Alsobrooks, President of NDAA and District Attorney General of the 23rd Judicial District in Charlotte, TN. Alsobrooks continued, “If Gov. Ryan wants a memorable legacy – he certainly has one that is unenviable. He has made himself judge and jury by issuing commutations for 156 of the most violent criminals in America.”
The NDAA has approximately 6,500 members who represent about 30,000 state and local prosecutors who prosecute more than 95% of all violent crimes that take place in the United States.
CONTACT: Velva M. Walter
Director, Media Relations (NDAA)
703-519-1689 – Email: velva.walter@ndaa-apri.org
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