# A question about inmates pardoned by IL Gov. Ryan

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 13, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261 "2003-01-13T07:05:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mammie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@Mammie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mammie)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261/1 "2003-01-13T07:05:27Z")

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Sorry if this should be posted somewhere else, but I do have a question. Is there a website where I can find out the names and hometowns of the inmates that IL Governor Ryan has pardoned? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![OrganicMatter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/898d66/32.png) [@OrganicMatter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OrganicMatter)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261/2 "2003-01-13T07:10:48Z")

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Here is an [article](http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-death12s1.html) from the Chicago Sun-Times that has a lot of information.

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**Author:** ![Mammie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@Mammie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mammie)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261/3 "2003-01-13T07:19:50Z")

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Thanks, Org.

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**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261/4 "2003-01-13T10:44:07Z")

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IAN an American and I am not trying to make a Great Debates point here. From the media coverage I have seen in Ireland Gov. Ryan has _pardoned_ a small number of persons who were convicted and sentenced to death, and has _commuted the sentences_ of all other persons who were convicted and sentenced to death so that, instead of being executed, they will spend a long time (or their whole lives) in prison.

Two questions:

1. Is this correct?

2. If so, is a commutation of sentences spoken of as a “pardon” in the US?

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**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261/5 "2003-01-13T10:49:31Z")

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**UDS** :

1. Yes. I believe 4 were pardoned, and around 165 were commuted and will be serving life in prison.
2. No. There has been some confusion because a lot of people _think_ “commute” and “pardon” are the same, though.

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**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-inmates-pardoned-by-il-gov-ryan/148261/6 "2003-01-13T16:12:38Z")

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Sunday’s Chicago Tribune listed the names, photos, and a brief description of the crime(s) that each of the 167 Death Row inmates committed. It will be an invaluable tool for the Death Penalty project that my students are going to be working on for the next three weeks. (Too bad I am home sick today.)☹