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* The John Howard Association has responded to today’s new TV ad that slams Gov. Quinn’s 2009 early release program…
As Illinois’ only non-partisan prison watchdog, the John Howard Association doesn’t care who becomes the state’s next governor, but we do care about safe, fair, and effective criminal justice policy. That’s why in 2012 we led a broad-based coalition to reform Illinois’ early release program, which Govern Quinn had suspended a few years before. Our proposal won significant bi-partisan support in both chambers and was signed into law not only because it made needed changes to the old early release program, but also because it addressed the fundamental reality of our prison system: almost all prisoners eventually come back.
Illinois needs a correction system that is as good at returning people safely and successfully to their communities as it is at incapacitating offenders. The state has made significant progress in this respect since 2009, from reducing our costly use of juvenile incarceration to removing barriers to employment for people with criminal records, but we have a long way to go before we can say our prison system makes wise use of our limited resources. The only way we are going to get there is if we continue to embrace thoughtful approaches to crime and punishment and abandon the failed policy and politics of over incarceration.”
John Maki
Executive Director
John Howard Association
* Somewhat off-topic, but the new Rauner ad has a typo…
A Quinnster commented…
The more desperate they get - the sloppier their work
posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Sep 20, 14 @ 5:32 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Quinn hit on botched early prisoner release program (COMMENTS OPENED)
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Also somewhat off-topic: https://twitter.com/MisterJayEm/status/512307595085119488
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 8:04 am
I saw the ad with the typo once on TV this weekend and didn’t see it again. Was it pulled, I wonder?
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 8:49 am
It’s been encouraging in recent months to see willingness across the political spectrum to re-examine the American way of prosecution and incarceration.
We can’t afford to keep locking up non-violent offenders to show how “tough on crime” we are, and leaving them with Scarlet Letters that make them unemployable for life.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 8:53 am
Awfully early for Rauner to play this card. What are his own polls showing that force him to stoop to this level? Also seems like a red-meat, base appeal at a time his base should be consolidated and Rauner talking to the middle. Not a good look for him.
Comment by Reality Check Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 8:57 am
We can’t afford to keep locking up non-violent offenders to show how “tough on crime” we are, and leaving them with Scarlet Letters that make them unemployable for life.
No one is making that claim.
You seem to be willing to overlook how no one victimized by these parolees, or those who had to deal with these parolees - were told ahead of time that their lives could be on the line once again. Victims are citizens with rights as well, and they aren’t the ones who needed to be incarcerated. Your concern for jailed citizens needs to be balanced with your concerns for citizens victimized by those in jail.
It was wrong for Quinn to handle these serious situations so badly.
That is the main point.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:00 am
I agree, wordslinger. On a related note, we’re bringing to Illinois one of the country’s leading conservative spokesperson for criminal justice reform, Marc Levin from Right in Crime. He’ll be testifying at tomorrow’s criminal justice reform hearing: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/JHA-Brings-Right-On-Crime-to-Illinois.html?soid=1102486476588&aid=2aueCHECfm8
Comment by John howard association Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:02 am
Awfully early for Rauner to play this card.
If you were a victim of one of these parolees, you wouldn’t see this as a game to be played at all. Politicizing this as you do ignores the terrible crimes inflicted upon innocent victims.
Some things need to be taken seriously. This is one of them.
Quinn can handle this like a governor, or politicize it like a candidate. He needs to man up and answer the questions like the governor he is.
This isn’t something to mock.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:04 am
politicizing this as you do
Just a sec. Rauner making a political campaign ad is fair game, but me questioning his strategy is unfair?
I think this calls for a big old Rich-style BITE ME.
Comment by Reality Check Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:10 am
VMan, read for comprehension. Sound out the words if necessary. I was addressing a related, larger issue, not a five-year-old early release program or the political hay Rauner is trying to make of it.
And although you’re status as an Eternal Victim is understood, don’t presume to speak for real victims.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:21 am
“Some things need to be taken seriously. This is one of them.”
Vanilla Man is EXACTLY right. So what IS Bruce Rauner’s public safety plan? How would Bruce Rauner address the fact that Illinois’ over-reliance on prisons doesn’t make us safer and that it has been demonstrated to INCREASE crime? How would Bruce Rauner address the fact that we are spending thousands of millions of dollars to put people in prison who don’t need to be there, while scraping pennies together to fund schools, mental health services and substance abuse treatment?
Pat Quinn ain’t perfect, but he’s been working to improve Illinois’ criminal justice policies and practices literally since Day One. And for the first time in living memory, progress is being made.
And Bruce Rauner?
Oh yeah… Once again, no details. No plan. Just another smug grin and assurances that he plans to plan a plan. But we can rest assured that he’ll cut taxes, increase funding for schools, cut spending, gut unions, run the criminal justice like a business, and give us all unicorn-ponies for Summer Christmas.
Some things DO need to be taken seriously. But what evidence does anyone have that smirking Bruce Rauner takes this issue seriously?
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 9:34 am
MrJM makes a telling point.
If Rauner follows the standard GOP position on crime, then he will advocate longer sentences, converting more offenses into Class X, and preventing released sex offenders from living anywhere. On the other hand, if Rauner disagrees with his party on this, he hasn’t said so.
Comment by Anon Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:05 am
I hate the scare stuff even if there have been some crimes committed after parole. and it’s out of context most of the time. that said, it works with lots. and, beware the things that happen in the next few weeks. someone let out between now and the election who goes bad. someone out now who should still be in goes bad. one new big headline can pump up this scare stuff.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 10:45 am
== didn’t see it again ==
It ran 4 times during Sunday Night Football alone.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:02 am
== The more desperate they get - the sloppier their work ==
Yet they are running an ad featuring a garbage bag laying on the side of the road next to the Governor’s car in the closing shot?
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:07 am
If Rauner follows the standard GOP position on crime…
His success so far has been in avoiding all the standard GOP positions.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 1:12 pm
I agree with wordslinger @ 8:52am
The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country. A huge amount of these incarcerations are for non-violent offences.
Many are for possession of small amounts of drugs.
Comment by Enviros-Anon Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 2:03 pm