* Restarting the early release program for good behavior had bipartisan support in the General Assembly and has received applause from newspaper editorial boards. But, as always, there are consequences…

As Gov. Pat Quinn mulls a bill to allow early release for inmates in state prisons, parole agents who monitor ex-offenders say the program would add to their already burdensome caseload. […]

An IDOC report from 2010 showed there were about 28,000 parolees that year and a ratio of one agent for every 80.4 parolees. That works out to about 349 parole agents statewide. IDOC’s website currently says there are about 26,000 parolees. […]

The 2010 IDOC report shows 8.6 percent of inmates admitted to prison that year were former inmates who went back to prison for committing new crimes, while 29 percent were inmates who violated the terms of their parole.

Simmons says some parole agents are working without vehicles, instead relying on rides from other parole agents to check up on their assigned parolees. He says the Illinois State Police have started allowing parole agents to use their vehicles as a short-term solution.

Oy.

* Meanwhile, Kurt Erickson looked at agency purchasing records to see how serious the Quinn administration is about closing facilities…

But, a review of requests for various services and products at the facilities shows some are continuing to purchase goods, while others are cancelling contracts because of what could be a looming shutdown.

The state’s youth prison in Murphysboro is an example.

On May 29, the Illinois Department of Department of Juvenile Justice canceled a $2.1 million contract extension for substance abuse counseling at the Southern Illinois facility, saying the service won’t be needed after June 30.

That stands in contrast to purchases being made by officials at the all-female Dwight Correctional Center, which Quinn also said he wants to shutter.

In May, Dwight officials signed off on an agreement to spend $59,000 on water-testing services. The facility also just approved a contract to buy $12,800 worth of thread for use in the facility’s garment manufacturing program.

At the youth prison in Joliet, officials there spent more than $15,400 to repair a broken air conditioning system.

But, a response by Illinois Department of Human Services spokeswoman Januari Smith suggests not reading too much into the purchasing requests.