In a statement, the Cook County State's Attorney's office said, "Today, in the matter of the People of Illinois v. Adolfo Davis, we are very pleased with the Courts decision to reinstate the natural life sentence of this defendant. Based upon the heinous nature of this crime and the fact that Davis
Editor's note: Eight years ago, reporter Linda Paul was reporting for WBEZ on life sentences without parole for juveniles. She came across the case ofAdolfo Davis,whod received the sentence years before as a teenager. She went to visit Davis in prison and set out to understand the circumstances a
In the months after I met Adolfo Davis, I tracked down three of Davis early defense lawyers and two of his prosecutors. David OConnor was one of the original prosecutors at Davis trial and he had strong memories of Adolfo as a young teenager.Adolfo Davis? OConnor asked. Any time you're talkin
Its important to note that these comments from Alan Spellberg are from years ago. Today, his office cant talk to the media about Adolfo Davis. Thats because Davis case is now pending. But in the past, Spellberg did talk to me about it and he said, We cant determine for sure that he fired the
A Stateville visitA couple of years ago I went to the sprawling Stateville Correctional Facility to talk to Adolfo Davis for a second time.Adolfo Davis knew this facility well. At 17, when he was first transferred there from Joliet youth prison, he was the youngest person in the general population,
The probation officer said he believed there would be facilities in the adult system that could offer treatment and rehabilitation to Adolfo Davis. And he saw that as important because he saw Davis as not only a threat to the public, but also a threat to himself.
When Adolfo Davis was found guilty in adult court- by statute, the judge had no choice but to sentence him to life without parole.Under the statute that I got convicted of, it says if you get convicted of two murders without a reasonable doubt you get natural life, Davis tells me. Now if I woul
Thats where he met licensed clinical counselor Jill Stevens, who was his therapist for over four years. Adolfo Davis was unique she says, in terms of maintaining a positive attitude in spite of coming from such a hideous background. His drive to help other kids not make the same mistakes he had,