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* This sort of thing may be one reason why the governor’s office is asking for a supplemental approp for IDOC…
A Peoria murder trial was delayed this week after the Illinois Department of Corrections said it was short of gas money.
This week, an official at Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling sent an email to the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office saying it couldn’t bring an inmate, who was slated to be a witness in a murder trial, because it was “having difficulties with making fuel purchases at the current time.”
The official then asked the state’s attorney’s office to push the trial back later in May “when the probability is more likely that we will be able to obtain fuel while on the road if needed.” […]
The delay is significant because Samuel T. Clay Jr.] has been in custody since the fatal shooting [of October 2015 shooting of 14-year-old and has only days left before the 120-day limit for the Speedy Trial Act. While he’s been in custody for well more than that, the clock is stopped when he asks for or agrees to continue the proceedings.
His attorney Maureen Williams had initially agreed to the continuance Monday but then vigorously opposed it on Tuesday, saying it was within the power of the state’s attorney’s office to get the prisoner to Peoria — a notion that both Judge John Vespa and prosecutor David Gast contested.
Oy.
*** UPDATE *** From Lindsey N. Hess at IDOC…
While the Department acknowledges it is in desperate need of additional appropriation authority from the General Assembly, I want to make it clear that no offenders have missed scheduled court appearances because of a fuel shortage. The IDOC has no record of the offender who was named in the article being required to attend court on May 8. The Department will transport him, and all other offenders who have court appearances, on the dates they are scheduled.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:15 am
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What are the repercussions when an individual is not granted a speedy trial?
Comment by Bothanspied Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:19 am
And what will happen when ISP and IDOT no longer have “gas money”?
Comment by illini Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:21 am
Repercussions of not complying with a speedy trial demand quite simple. You win and go free and cannot be charged again for same crime. Don’t think the defense bar will not notice this
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:24 am
I’ll pitch in the gas money. Don’t let this guy get off on a technicality.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:24 am
Dear Governor,
This is not the kind of “prison reform” we were looking for.
Sincerely,
Your constituents
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:26 am
What’s a word for something 3 steps beyond a dumpster fire?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:29 am
@PublicServant -
The right to a speedy trial is part of both the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions. Constitutional rights are not “technicalities”.
Comment by JoanP Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:32 am
So the tax increase brought in $5 billion more for FY18, but the state is literally running out of gas in May?
Sounds like a management problem.
Who’s in charge of that?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:36 am
Outrageous. Yet, if i recall correctly, rauner didnt even raise the IDOC supplemental in the leaders mtg. And admin officials were scolded in cmte recently for their blase treatment of the subject. This is the kind of thing that can become fodder for ridicule nationally.
Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:36 am
Looks like NBC Sports Net Chicago could have the makings of a spin off of their Beer Money show.
Comment by Concerned Dem Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:37 am
Yes, Governor Rauner. This is YOUR Illinois. Wear it. Own it. Fix it.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:38 am
No gas money? This is crazy. When do we run out of laundry soap and food at DOC?
Comment by Flynn's Mom Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:40 am
This kind of thing is happening in many departments, not just IDOC.
Comment by Generic Drone Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:41 am
Maybe IDOC can grab a few gallons from the buses and vans they run up and down the double nickel every week. how many gallons burned today for the IDOC program at the HQ?
Tell GovJunk it is called management.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:41 am
=And what will happen when ISP=
I will be able to 90 on 55 without fear of some trooper ruining my day.
Comment by Iggy Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:42 am
The judge contested it? What other excuses would he accept? The dog ate our warrant?
Comment by wondering Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:44 am
Yea, we stopped getting gas reimbursements a couple years ago, but it doesn’t mean we don’t do our jobs.
Comment by Biker Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:50 am
Just embarrassing, but shouldn’t IDOC be able to recoup the costs of transporting inmates to testify in a third party case? Are they currently not doing so?
Comment by Swift Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:57 am
mismanagement? or lack of funds? could be mismanagement, but governments everywhere are having problems making ends meet. the public continues to believe that governments can fund out of thin air. public safety…including health… cannot be compromised. priorities in budgeting are difficult.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 10:59 am
Rauner and his ilk hate any and all government.
Squeeze the beast, let them find the money somewhere else in the budget. Commenters on this site say cut, cut and cut some more.
No gas money, too bad. Find it in office supplies, utilities, reduce salaries, don’t fund the pensions, cut their cadillac health care plans.
Waste fraud and abuse. There is plenty of money for gasoline. Just try harder to find it.
Maybe they are right but wow is it a dangerous plan.
Comment by don the legend Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:49 am
–No gas money, too bad. –
He got $5 billion in new money. None of that went to the bill backlog reduction, that was bonded.
This is simply mismanagement by the executive.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:55 am
This has happened before. The ISP has doubled up troopers, therefore, parking one car. They have also imposed mileage limits of 100 miles per day. Might be had to do now since contractually master sergeants have unlimited personal use of their state car. Nice way to burn fuel while IDOC can’t get a witness to a murder trial. Believe me not much has changed under Rauner.
Comment by Cocoa Dave Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:20 pm
Doesn’t IDOC have a CMS credit card to buy fuel?
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:35 pm
@Huh-I was wondering the same. Surely they don’t use cash. Are they saying the amount budgeted for gas has been used up and therefore no gas?
Comment by Flynn's Mom Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:44 pm
@- Huh? - Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:35 pm:
Doesn’t IDOC have a CMS credit card to buy fuel?
A lot of gas station owners won’t take that card. They are still waiting to get paid from previous purchases. “Cash only”.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:46 pm
“No gas money? This is crazy. When do we run out of laundry soap and food at DOC?”
That’s the crazy thing. You see, when they ran out of laundry soap and couldn’t buy anymore, they resorted to using gasoline. Kills things in much the same manner. Now there’s a run on both.
Comment by Anon35 Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 1:05 pm
I don’t get it. If they are having problems paying the vendor that provides bulk fuel to their on-grounds tank, the vendor won’t deliver, that has happened in the past. But, if Wex hasn’t shut the department down, it shouldn’t be an issue. The director, deputies and warden should be embarrassed. Ask Western CC if their semis have stopped delivering food from their facility. If not, why not, if they have no fuel purchasing ability.
Comment by Bobby Hicks Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 2:22 pm
I would guess Wex shut them off. Looks like VAP didn’t come to the rescue. Wonder if other agencies are shut off too.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 2:36 pm
If Wex did shut them off, one inmate missing court is the least of their problems. IDOC semis would not be able to operate more than a day or two for food deliveries. Transfers would shut down, medical furloughs, etc. It’s a silly excuse. They can fool the fans, but not the players. Come on Jared, this is an unnecessary headline.
Comment by Bobby Hicks Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 2:49 pm
So we had money for the governor’s trip to Europe but not for the inmate’s trip to court?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 3:08 pm
Why isn’t the legislators screaming at IDOT to enact the prison reform recommendations passed by the GA ladt year
We can pay to haul low level non violent offenders Like pot smokers to prison but not violent criminals to court
Comment by anon Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 3:35 pm
opps That should be IDOC not IDOT
Comment by anon Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 3:35 pm
We in the Gaming Board have been notified (as of yesterday) that our WEX Cards no longer work and must go to the nearest State gas pump and use our “Blue Cards”. As if I know how to do that.
Comment by Lamont Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 4:05 pm
–So we had money for the governor’s trip to Europe but not for the inmate’s trip to court?–
Yeah, how does that work? Two weeks in Europe on the taxpayer dime, but no gas for a trip to court?
I smell a rat. I think this is a stunt to push the supplemental approp.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 4:06 pm
Hasn’t IDOC been short of funds every year that Rauner has been in office?
Rauner is shorting IDOC on purpose because he wants to privatize all prisons.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 7:15 pm
Fill up at the State Garage and stiff CMS. Done.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 8:28 pm