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Early release a possibility

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* If the administration is planning to release minor drug offenders, I have no problem with that at all. I’m opposed to locking them up in the first place, so an early release would be a rare bright side of the budget crisis. They should pardon them while they’re at it and get those people out of the parole system as well.

But if they’re gonna put convicted home burglars or the like back out on the street before they finish serving their time, then I would not be cool with that whatsoever. “Nonviolent” does not always mean “no threat”…

Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to slice $125 million from the Department of Corrections’ budget by laying off more than 1,000 employees and “downsizing” institutions likely will mean fewer inmates.

Derek Schnapp, Corrections spokesman, confirmed today that the department is drawing up lists of low-level offenders with less than a year on their sentences who could be released early and put on parole.

Furthermore, Schnapp said, more than 500 employees will be laid off from prisons in East Moline, Lincoln, Logan, Decatur, Vandalia and Vienna effective Sept. 30. Another round of layoffs that will result in 500 more employees losing their jobs will be announced in the future, Schnapp said, but he couldn’t say when.

Either way, this governor flip-flops so much that nobody really knows what could be next. He just vetoed an appropriations bill after soundly thwhacking the GA for sending him legislation that included his introduced spending levels for crying out loud.

…Adding… If you missed the governor’s presser, or you want to hear it again, IIS has a couple of links…

* Part 1
* Part 2

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 4:23 pm

Comments

Rich says, “He just vetoed an appropriations bill after soundly thwhacking the GA for sending him legislation that included his introduced spending levels for crying out loud.” (emphasis is in the original)

…Correct if I’m wrong, I’ve lost track a bit on which bill is which, but didn’t Quinn’s “spending levels” (which did pass) go along with Quinn’s tax plan (which did not pass)?

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 4:41 pm
PS - If 1000 employees are cut from DOC is that in addition to the 2600 “state employee” layoffs Quinn mentioned or part of it?

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 4:43 pm
Let’s let some minor drug offenders out of prison, where they didn’t belong, and send them back to our communities, where they can’t get drug treatment services because the funding has been cut to shreds.

Good planning.

Comment by ilrino Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 4:45 pm
Did anyone notice no budget cuts in staff in the Govs office.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 4:46 pm
Rob, he’s still pushing for that tax hike as far as I know.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 4:50 pm
Understood.

Bottom line: the bill was out of whack since the requested spending was included but not the requested revenue.

Ergo, spending needed to be cut and/or revenue raised.

Clearly he didn’t need to axe the whole thing but in a sense I get the politics behind why he did so.

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 4:59 pm
Except, Rob, read the veto message. Technically, it wasn’t about that at all.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:00 pm
Anon, there’s a reason for that. One small aspect that wasn’t approped at introduced level was Quinn’s budget. Lower.

The other one was Lisa’s budget. Higher. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:02 pm
I might be slow today, but when I click on the veto message link it only takes me back to the home page. What am I doing wrong?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:16 pm
{If the administration is planning to release minor drug offenders, I have no problem with that at all. I’m opposed to locking them up in the first place, so an early release would be a rare bright side of the budget crisis. They should pardon them while they’re at it and get those people out of the parole system as well.

But if they’re gonna put convicted home burglars or the like back out on the street before they finish serving their time, then I would not be cool with that whatsoever. “Nonviolent” does not always mean “no threat”…}

Drug users does not always mean “no threat either”. Most drug users are locked up for possession, but that only means that they may not have been caught performing the armed robbery to get the proceeds to purchase the drugs they possessed.

Blanket pardons would remove the strongest disincentive to committing more; and perhaps violent crimes in order to be able to continue to feed their habit.

Universally applied solutions to problems involving criminal justice are by their very nature un-balanced and as suggested here tilt in favor of the criminal rather than society as the victim, and could result in creating the opportunity for a more narrowly identified victim because someone was too lazy to make an honest and judicious decision applicable to each and every case on an individual basis.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:19 pm
There are very few pot smokers who’ve robbed people to feed their addiction.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:22 pm
Try again.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:23 pm
Thanks. Now I see your point.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:25 pm
Maybe the legislators should take a look at the legislation that put those guys in prison in the first place.
Until then you do the crime you do the time!

Comment by Pete Mitchell Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:29 pm
Is there any research that shows that early release
of low level offenders will lead to greater recidivism or significantly more crime.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:39 pm
Maybe, but I bet most who are in for robbery or worse were pot smokers and have drug-related offenses on their record. So let’s not even bother to slap them on their hand and move aside so they can break another law?

As far as Quinn’s flip flops, while I think he hasn’t helped his overall image, I do appreciate the fact that he is not digging in his heals on everything and willing to negotiate and try different things. Like his ideas or not, I give him credit for at least putting ideas on the table and not being a “generic politician” or an “invisible politician” during this time of crisis.

Comment by Chi Gal Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:40 pm
That’s an interesting point, Rich.

I’m inclined to think that incarceration makes people worse rather than reforming them. Incarcerate for public safety, but for punishment we can probably come up with something better, probably based on financial penalties and community service obligations.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:43 pm
Their are very few people convicted of Minor drug offenses in prison. And what is a minor drug offense. Are we talking possession? how large of an amount? what about selling drugs? Selling near a school is a class X felony is that still minor offense. I agree small amounts of cannabis for personel use is something that should be decriminalized but those cases dont result in prison sentences anyway so who exactly are we talking about.

Comment by fed up Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 5:48 pm
The 2600 includes DOC (from a link on Capfax)
$185 million: state operations

• 12 furlough days

• More than 1,600 layoffs for non-Department of Corrections staff

$140 million: Medicaid and health insurance

• Includes $100 million saved by moving Medicaid patients to managed care

$250 million: grants

• Cuts will be targeted to maximize federal matching funds

$175 million: education

• Maintains funding at fiscal 2009 levels and preserves all federal ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds

$125 million: Department of Corrections

• More than 1,000 layoffs of DOC personnel

$100 million: additional reserves

$25 million: other state offices, departments and agencies not under the governor

Comment by to Rob N Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 6:00 pm
{Derek Schnapp, Corrections spokesman, confirmed today that the department is drawing up lists of low-level offenders with less than a year on their sentences who could be released early and put on parole.}

The quote didn’t provide any definition of “low-level offenders” , nor did you provide more specificity around your characterization of “minor drug offenders” so I am not sure it was easy to assume from either that they were limited to just “pot smokers”.

“Low level offenders”, and “minor drug offenders” can also include those that were simply caught, arrested, and convicted at a time that was more advantageous than their frequent use might have otherwise reflected.

That one lucky person who did not benefit from any treatment while institutionalized; and may not likely receive any soon after their release is the most likely to become a repeat offender. They could also well be the person to stick a gun in your face the next time they are short of cash and need a fix.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 6:04 pm
The laid-off D of C workers could release the prisoners onto the lawns of Madigan and the House GOP and sell-out Democrats! Fun times!!

Comment by state employee Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 7:22 pm
Rich , please tell me one person that is in a prison for smoking pot , number one smoking pot is not a felony , number 2 smoking pot and selling a pound of weed to police is , that is the difference ,you don’t have drug users in prison for using a drug, you have drug users that sell dope that are.

Comment by ispretired Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 7:24 pm
early release was a big problem during the Thompson
administration. the problem with simply looking at a
minor offense is that the entire record of the offender
must be considered. I agree that if someone is put in
on a minor drug offense, out they should probably go.
but there are very few of those offenders put in. they
usually have a combination of offense and bad rest of
record. or they simply get probation. the truth is, it’s
pretty hard to put someone into prison.

also, let’s not forget, often the offense that nabs a super
bad guy, oh, say, like Bundy, is a minor offense, like
a traffic offense and then they see who they got. i’m not
saying they would let a serial murderer out, but, look at
the Burris offender in South Carolina. he got out, and
mayhem followed.

Comment by Amy Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 7:30 pm
KIirk Blowhard is annouuncing his Goobernatorial run tomorrow.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 7:39 pm
- Wumpus -
Please, tell us how you really feel - and please turn spell check back on.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 8:17 pm
Great Story south side politics http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1654513,CST-NWS-leak07.article Chicago Plumbing Inspector busted for side job.

Comment by Patrick McDonough Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 8:22 pm
Why no personnel cuts at CMS and DECCA (whatever it is called these days) since they are the most political appointee heavy agencies in Illinois?

Also it was “suggested” to me today that I work my 12 furlough days so as not to disrupt service to the citizens of Illinois.

Comment by State Worker W/ an MBA Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 8:23 pm
“…Also it was “suggested” to me today that I work my 12 furlough days so as not to disrupt service to the citizens of Illinois. …”
This smacks of extortion - work your furlough days and be thought well of, don’t and we’ll make a note of it. This should not be permitted, period. Report this to your “Inspector General” and file a grievance for undue pressure. Nip this crap in the bud Now!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 8:35 pm
Riccochet Rabbit Quinn and the GA are “disrupting services” not state employees taking furlough days - next they’ll ask not only that you work them but also kick in some pay to Q’s campaign fund. Wouldn’t want to be laid off would you. Q has to go! Blago Lite maybe, but just as sinister.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 8:43 pm
Great - state workers have now been added to the clients of social service agencies as human shields for what the legislators don’t want to cut.

Comment by Treeboy Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 8:46 pm
are there any cuts at DOT? can’t tell me they can’t be trimmed…and not all people in jail are there for selling, i don’t buy it. people are in for possession, regardless of intent.

Comment by seriously Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 9:06 pm
seriously-

One reason there aren’t any layoffs yet announced for IDOT is that most, if not all, of our payroll is paid from the Road and Construction Funds (fed by Motor Fuel Tax and other user fees) and federal-aid from the Federal Highway Administration. Almost no General Revenue funds, in which the deficit principally lies, is used for IDOT payroll. Further, laying us off will not elicit the negative attention which Mr. Quinn hopes will help force a solution. Of course, by the same logic, we should not be required to serve any furlough time, etc. But, we have already been told we will do so in the spirit of “shared sacrifice”. Irrational, but true.

Comment by IDOT Engineer Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 9:45 pm
Cassandra,
That research is called Willie Horton.
It only takes one offense to sink a political campaign.
Wanna wager on whether everyone Quinn lets out will remain on the straight and narrow before next November?
And before you start demanding stats and real info to back up positions, keep in mind this is politics and Illinois. They have no place here. This is about scapegoating, strawman politics and who can pick up a seat or precinct here or there.

Comment by Frank Booth Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 10:42 pm
Those in power love layoffs. Edgar used them twice so his newly hired from SOS at larger salaries undr the gov’s office could get rid of those they did not “like”!
From what I saw at work today-two high level well paid administrators visiting until 11 am, lay off !!!,well we could all make lists, couldn’t we? And if those remaining behind have no idea how to manage, there will be fiscal problems forever. Hang in there everyone.

Comment by long time state worker Tuesday, Jul 7, 09 @ 11:00 pm
Why can’t we be more creative in dealing with non-violent offenders?

For example, burglers could be required to stay under house arrest with a bracelet that monitors their location at all times, providing a strong deterrent and compelling evidence if any more crimes are committed. Same for non-violent marijuana dealers, especially since the drug is less addictive than both alcohol and nicotine.

Why is it so hard for politicians to figure out common sense ways to save taxpayer money that still prevent crime?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 9:27 am
Anon 4:46,

I’ve been noticing no staff cuts in governor’s or legislative offices for several weeks now, while human service providers are put through the wringer yet again.

Not very courageous or original of Quinn, and is putting a very bad taste in my mouth that may well still be there when the primary rolls around.

Comment by LynnS Wednesday, Jul 8, 09 @ 11:30 pm