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The Top Official in Illinois Canceled Court Orders

时间:2005-05-31 16:00来源:互联网 提供网友:vipnoble   字体: [ ]
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Broadcast: Jan 18, 2003
By Cynthia Kirk

Last Saturday, the top official in the American state of Illinois canceled court orders to execute1 one-hundred-sixty-seven prisoners. Illinois Governor George Ryan reduced most of the sentences to life in prison. He said he had no other choice because his state's system of executing criminals is not fair.

A day earlier, Governor Ryan pardoned four other prisoners who were sentenced to die. He said the four men had been tortured2 by police and forced to admit to crimes they did not do.

Governor Ryan said he supported a state's right to execute dangerous criminals when he took office four years ago. However, his position began to change after studies found that thirteen prisoners sentenced to death in Illinois should be released. The studies identified mistakes in the way those prisoners were tried. They also found new evidence that cleared some prisoners of charges.

Three years ago, Governor Ryan suspended all executions in the state. He said he could not risk sending innocent people to death. He then formed a committee to do study Illinois's use of the death sentence and suggest reforms. The committee also examined many death penalty3 cases.

The group found questions about the fairness of the sentencing. It said some of the prisoners were given bad legal advice. It also discovered wrongdoing by police officers. The committee proposed eighty-five reforms. But Illinois's legislature has yet to act on the reforms. Governor Ryan criticized lawmakers for failing to approve them.

The United States Supreme1 Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional in nineteen-seventy-two. However, most states and the federal government have renewed the punishment.

Governor Ryan's action has increased debate about the issue. About seventy-percent of the American public are said to support the death penalty. Yet many people question the fairness of the system and its ability to separate the innocent4 from the guilty.

Death penalty opponents hope that what happened in Illinois will influence other states. Opponents such as Amnesty International already have begun pressuring other governors and President Bush to reject the death penalty. Amnesty International says the punishment is no longer used in most countries.

Many supporters of the death penalty have condemned2 the Illinois Governor. They accused him of using his action last week to cover up problems during his term as governor. Political opponents also have linked him to wrongdoing.

George Ryan's term in office ended on Monday. The state's new governor says Governor Ryan's decision was a big mistake. Already, government lawyers in the Chicago area have asked the state's highest court to re-consider the death sentence for ten prisoners affected3 by the decision.

This VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS, was written by Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember.
1. execute [5eksIkju:t] vt. 执行, 实行, 完成, 处死,
2. torture [5tC:tFE] vt. 拷问, 曲解, 折磨, 使弯曲
3. penalty [5penltI] n. 处罚, 罚款
4. innocent [5InEsEnt] n. 无罪的人,无辜的人;清白的人


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的
参考例句:
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
2 condemned condemned     
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
  • The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。
3 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
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TAG标签:   voa  国际经纬  top  official  voa  国际经纬  top  official
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