Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law Wednesday a bill abolishing the death penalty making Illinois the 16th state to end capital punishment. Quinn also commuted 15 death sentences to life imprisonment without parole.

Quinn, formerly a long-time supporter of capital punishment, said the decision to abolish execution is based on the state’s experience of wrongful convictions, which failed to ensure justice. He also believes that keeping the punishment does not deter crimes and wastes state funds.

To the families of victims of crimes opposing the abolition of death penalty, Quinn said he is with them in their grief.

A group of lawmakers witnessed the signing of the bill in Quinn’s Capitol office. The law takes effect on July 1.

There were 12 executions in Illinois since 1976 before former governor George Ryan imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in the state following the exoneration of four death row inmates. Ryan also commuted the death sentences of 167 convicts to life in prison in 2003 while 15 people sentenced to die since then were not executed.

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