Illinois becomes 16th state to ban death penalty

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

thats why I put a lot of weight on DNA evidence. I have no problem executing these monsters when the DNA evidence is there.

IMO, DNA makes a big difference in wrongful convictions, I could see where the were more prevelent back 20 years, even 10 years ago. I'm sure there are still wrongful convictions... but if the DNA is there, go for the execution.

I understand the power of DNA evidence but I question how often it is the determining factor in capital offenses, many times there is no DNA evidence or it is inconclusive. I watch the virtual explosion in science in the last 20 years or so and have to wonder....10-20 years from now, what new techniques will have been developed? Yesterday's science fiction is today's science. Will, for example, we be able to examine the optic nerves of murder victims and be able to produce images of their last minutes? If so, how many murderers will that convict and how many innocent folks could that technology clear?