George Ryan
George Ryan
George Homer Ryan, Sr.was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He was a member of the Republican Party. Ryan received national attention for his 1999 moratorium on executions in Illinois and for commuting more than 160 death sentences to life sentences in 2003. He was later convicted of federal corruption charges and spent more than five years in federal prison and seven months of home confinement. He was released from federal prison on...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth24 February 1934
CountryUnited States of America
In April of 1986, Aaron Patterson was tortured by Area 2 Violent Crimes detectives, under the direct supervision and with the active participation of Commander (Jon) Burge. The record in Mr. Patterson's case shows that he was one of the last of the approximately 60 known victims who have alleged torture by Chicago Police detectives at Area 2 Police Headquarters from 1972 to 1986.
without his leadership we might not be here this afternoon.
We've lost the ability to carry 2,000 or 3000 tons on some of the 1000-footers (freighters) since last year, ... That's a loss of about $100,000 on every voyage.
I am haunted by the demon of error - error in determining guilt and error in determining who among the guilty deserves to die.
Because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious - and therefore immoral - I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.
I'm going to sleep well tonight knowing that I made the right decision.