QUINN STILL LETTING HIS PEOPLE GO!!



Drawn by Scott Stantis for the Chicago Tribune

On September 20 2009, I posted a blog, “Quinn Says Let The Prisoners Go,” about about the Illinois Governor's early release plan called Meritorious Good Time (MGT). Back then it made no sense morally or economically. Then in August 7th this year, I wrote, “I Told You So,” about how the plan was still not effective and included a quote from then Governor Quinn’s Chief of Staff Jerry Stermet who said, “The accelerated MGT program was a mistake." Well guess what? MGT is still happening!


State Senator Christine Radogno (R-41st District), Republican Minority Leader in the Illinois Senate sent out a newsletter that said, “Governor Pat Quinn is granting early release to convicted felons on a near daily basis, even as he buys ads and makes public statements designed to portray himself as having shut down discretionary early release programs in Illinois.


In fact, more than 2,000 felons have been released in the past three months, even though Quinn recently released a television ad that references early release and says he ‘took action and shut it down’ and adds he ‘stopped it cold.’ “


Is Quinn a liar, liar pants in fire? Read on.


Quinn's claims impelled State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) to investigate.” Since late July, Governor Quinn has allowed these convicted felons to leave prison early under the controversial MGT or Meritorious Good Time program." said Dillard "In fact, on the very same day that he began running a commercial claiming to have shut the program down 'cold' he released 22 felons."

Radogno’s newsletter also pointed out, “In fact, as of Oct. 15, three hundred felons have been released so far this month due to the discretionary good time awards. These include dangerous offenders, such as aggravated sexual abuse, aggravated battery of a pregnant person, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a family member, numerous firearm offenses and at least three individuals convicted on murder charges.”

Under SB 3411, which was signed by the Governor on July 19, the Department of Corrections is required to post online the names and criminal history of every prisoner granted meritorious good time. The list can be viewed under the "Community Notification of Inmate Early Release" on the Illinois Department of Corrections website. (http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/search/CNER.asp)

I randomly clicked on three names to get information about their sentences and release dates. (I originally had printed the full names of the prisoners until a friend e-mailed me  her concern that I needed to protect myself.  So I have edited the last names.)

(1) Marcos A
He was incarcerated on 10/31/2006. His sentence for manufacture and delivery of cocaine was 12 years. He was released on September 13, 2010, serving less than 4 years.

(2) Tracy A
She was incarcerated on 5/27/2009 and was sentenced to 4 years for possession. It was not her first visit to the rodeo, but she was released early this past September after serving only 16 months of her 48.

(3) James A
He was incarcerated on 8/14/2008 with a 7 year sentence for burglary. He was released last week, October 15th, after serving only two years.

The list on the Department of Corrections web site is pages and pages and pages long. I am sure if I kept checking I would have found some murderers and pedophiles.

Back in August, when we thought the MGT program had been terminated, I concluded the blog by writing:

Winston Churchill said, “All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.” Since Quinn is not a wise man, we have to hope the voters of Illinois are and don't allow him to keep Illinois' highest elected position, the Office of Governor.

This time I conclude with Ben Franklin’s,"Well done is better than well said." Quinn said he did it, but he did not do it. Stick a fork in him; he is done.