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Illinois Gov. Puts Prison Early Release Program On Hold
Chicago Tribune via YellowBrix
December 14, 2009
Gov. Pat Quinn has suspended a program that allowed hundreds of inmates to be released early by earning credit for good behavior.
Quinn said Sunday that his office will review the Illinois Department of Corrections’ “meritorious good time” release program, which came under fire after an analysis showed some inmates with past convictions for drunken driving, battery and weapons violations spent mere weeks behind bars before release.
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Under the program, corrections chief Michael P. Randle may grant any inmate 90 days’ worth of credit based on their behavior while behind bars.
The report by the Associated Press found hundreds of inmates were given the good-conduct credit immediately on entering prison, and more than 850 inmates have been released under the program since September.
The good-credit program is separate from a policy previously announced by Quinn to release 1,000 nonviolent offenders early if they are within the last year of their sentence.
That move was aimed at saving hundreds of millions of dollars as the state faces a massive budget deficit. With a prison population of about 45,545, Illinois taxpayers spend more than $1 billion a year on corrections.
Inmates convicted of murder, sex crimes or domestic violence, or who have active orders of protection against them do not qualify for release under Quinn’s plan.
Reed wouldn’t say if Quinn felt Randle was being too lenient in issuing the good conduct credit, adding “the governor has great respect and regard for Director Randle and his judgment.”
A spokeswoman for Randle didn’t return calls or e-mails.
The biggest critics of the release program were state prosecutors, who worried that it threatened public safety and put residents at risk.
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Anonymous
over 3 years ago
Very smart move!
Lawful_Blue
over 3 years ago
1184 Comments
About time Pat Quinn made a smart move................
ProtectandServe1
over 3 years ago
112 Comments
Fist Bump to the Gov on this one.
servingproud
over 3 years ago
4684 Comments
Smart move Gov.
skascooter007
over 3 years ago
2010 Comments
Can you really trust an inmate in jail, they say they found Jesus but most of the time they are trying to get out early by any means possible. Keep them locked up!!
ddennis90
over 3 years ago
140 Comments
Well at least my great state of IL is finally starting to move in the right direction. It only took.......forever. Good job Gov. Quinn keep it up sir.
Perl
over 3 years ago
1498 Comments
Yes, put it on hold until they fill out a voter's registration card(s) for ACORN.
~Wf
Irishcop1961
over 3 years ago
36848 Comments
Thumbs up.
t3n37
over 3 years ago
128 Comments
Two thumbs up!
Anonymous
over 3 years ago
I gotta give a BIG BUMP to Gov. Quinn for putting a halt to this program!
HapkidoKa
over 3 years ago
1098 Comments
Thumbs up for stopping the program guess Quinn wants to be elected Gov.
HapkidoKa
over 3 years ago
1098 Comments
"Reed wouldn’t say if Quinn felt Randle was being too lenient in issuing the good conduct credit, adding “the governor has great respect and regard for Director Randle and his judgment.”
Should I say it for him................... The credit has been issued in a more than lenient manner!
"Under the program, corrections chief Michael P. Randle may grant any inmate 90 days’ worth of credit based on their behavior while behind bars."
How can you prove good behavior if you just got to prison. He's giving it to them as soon as they arrive.