State Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) said he intends to file legislation to restore the death penalty in limited cases involving "the most evil of crimes."
“As a former State’s Attorney, I understand the complexities of seeking the death penalty for individuals who have committed heinous crimes,” Haine stated in a press release.
“I have been shocked and appalled by the recent killings we have seen in churches and of police officers. The reality is there are some crimes in which the death penalty should be an option for a jury of our citizens to consider. Those who take the life of officers, or engage in mass killings, need to face the appropriate consequences.”
According to a press release, Haine plans to reintroduce legislation he had proposed in 2013 in the wake of a "series of atrocious murders across the country, including the murder of a police officer in Illinois."
The original legislation came out of death penalty reform proposals from the Illinois Capital Punishment Reform Study Committee, the release states.
Provisions of the legislation would give state's attorneys the ability to seek the death penalty in first-degree murder cases by requiring them to provide notice of intent to seek or decline the death penalty as soon as possible.
The legislation would outline specific crimes which would be eligible to receive the death penalty such as; serial killings, heinous murders of a child, seniors or a person with a disability, murders of witnesses, correctional officers and law enforcement officials.
The release states that Haine plans to file the legislation when the state senate reconvenes in the coming weeks.