States must enact death penalty moratorium
Letter to the Editor
As a lifelong Hoosier, I am mindful of the identity of my home state. Expansive cornfields, unmatched high school basketball and "singing" sand dunes are but a few of the things that make Indiana unique and great. I have always been proud yet wary of comparisons with any other state — especially comparisons made with our larger neighbor to the west, Illinois. This week, however, the "Land of Lincoln" made a decision so admirable it made me take notice. Illinois' decision makes me hopeful that Indiana and 36 other states will follow the example it has established.
At a press conference Monday afternoon, Illinois Governor George Ryan announced a moratorium on all executions in the state. This decision temporarily spares the life of Patrick Wright, who was scheduled to be executed March 28, as well as the 259 other inmates of Illinois' death row. Ryan was prompted by a Chicago Tribune investigation that exposed systematic flaws, including the use of questionable jailhouse informants and incompetent defense attorneys. The Tribune's investigation exposed so many errors that 130, or half, of all death penalty cases were recently overturned (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 22). In the last 23 years, Illinois has actually cleared more death row inmates of their crimes, 13, than it has executed, 12. Governor Ryan said in his statement that he "can't support a system which in its administration has proven to be so fraught with error and come so close to the ultimate nightmare — the state's taking of innocent life" (Chicago Tribune, Feb. 1).
Hoosier death penalty supporters might argue that Indiana does not need to follow Illinois' lead. After all, they might say, little evidence exists that the Indiana system has the same errors that have characterized Illinois' death row. This, however, is untrue. Indiana's use of the death penalty is outrageous. The execution of D.H. Fleenor last month in Michigan City was so despicable that it should make even the most ardent death penalty supporters cringe. The Indiana Supreme Court recently decided that mentally handicapped individuals should no longer be placed on death row. Though a commendable decision, it was not retroactive and therefore did not effect individuals, like Mr. Fleenor, who were on death row at the time. Indiana went through with the execution in spite of Mr. Fleenor's delusional behavior and diagnosed IQ of 70. Father Joe Lanzalaco, possibly the only man who had an extensive relationship with Mr. Fleenor, remarked that Mr. Fleenor was perhaps the most insane person on the state's death row, a man who had no touch with reality whatsoever.
If that were not enough, the state botched Mr. Fleenor's execution. It took three attempts and 37 minutes to stop his final breath. The experience was so moving that it brought state spokeswoman Pam Pattison to tears.
Importantly, Governor Ryan's announcement comes only in response to extensive investigations of the state's capital cases nonbiased sources like Northwestern University professors and the Chicago Tribune. In Indiana, there has been no comparable investigation. Should a similar investigation take place in this state, the same mistakes would surely be uncovered.
Illinois' response to extensive investigation was to impose a moratorium so that the issue could be researched even further. Indiana must dedicate similar resources into its cases. An immediate halt to executions in Indiana would allow the state time to appropriately review its death penalty cases.
It is time for Indiana, and the other 36 states with death penalty statutes, to follow Illinois' example and establish a moratorium on the death penalty. As Governor Ryan said Monday, "There is no margin for error when it comes to putting a person to death." Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon should heed his colleague's advice and conform to his decision.
Matthew Monberg
Senior
Dillon Hall
February 1, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, February 2, 2000
