A broad plan to reduce the chances of an innocent person...

A broad plan to reduce the chances of an innocent person being executed in Illinois was approved by the state Senate. The measure had already been approved on March 4 (see) by the Judiciary Committee. The bill would bar the death penalty in cases where the only evidence is from a jailhouse informant or a single eyewitness. It also lets the state Supreme Court overturn unjust death sentences even without a technical problem to justify the action. The Senate also approved a separate bill requiring police to videotape interrogations in murder cases. The measure was sent to the House on a 57-1 vote. It is believed to have a strong chance of passing in the House, which also is controlled by Democrats.