Opinion ID: 2003518
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Evidence of the Death Penalty's Lack of a Deterrent Effect

Text: Defendant contends that the trial court erred in granting the State's motion in limine barring defendant from introducing evidence that the death penalty has proved ineffective as a deterrent to crime. In People v. Williams (1983), 97 Ill.2d 252, 301, 73 Ill.Dec. 360, 454 N.E.2d 220, this court held that such testimony is improper, noting that [arguments against the death penalty in general and not containing evidence in mitigation are inadmissible. Defendant seeks to distinguish Williams, noting in that case the witnesses whose testimony was barred would have testified as to their beliefs about the unwisdom and immorality of the death penalty and the repellant nature of an execution in the electric chair, in addition to the death penalty's lack of deterrence. However, this court concluded that none of this evidence was admissible. Accordingly, defendant's argument is without merit.