Connect the dots between stories

There are two news stories that Daily Herald readers ought to connect.

First, The United Nations General Assembly voted for a global moratorium on the death penalty. The vote was 104 to 54 with 29 nations abstaining. In other words, the death penalty is barbaric and unnecessary in the opinion of the majority of the nations of the world.

Second, a jury awarded $15.5 million to Kevin Fox and his wife after deciding that Will County sheriff's detectives were liable for false arrest and malicious prosecution. Fox testified he was forced to tell the police what they wanted to hear.

Even though Fox was released from jail before his trial, the jury award draws attention to the fact that the Illinois criminal justice system continues to have big flaws. People accused of crime can be made to confess to things they did not do.

Most judges, police, detectives and attorneys are working hard to make the Illinois Criminal Justice system the best that they are able. In spite of the hard work and good intentions, our system is flawed.

Capital punishment should not exist in such a system. The death penalty is barbaric and unnecessary. The better solution to the Illinois death penalty question is simply to abolish it.

Robert Purcell

Palatine