January 31, 2003

The Ultimate Cliffhanger

When Illinois Gov. George Ryan commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners to life in prison this month, the decision sparked widespread debate. What does the decision say about America's long history with the death penalty? We asked two experts for an analysis of the event's cultural and social significance.

Eliza Steelwater, consultant in historic preservation and author of The Hangman's Knot: Lynching, Legal Execution, and America's Struggle with the Death Penalty (Westview

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