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IL Prison Release Questioned

By AP

Springfield, IL – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is halting his prison system's secret early release of prisoners after the Associated Press reported that some inmates served less than three weeks behind bars. Quinn announced yesterday that his chief of staff and Department of Corrections director will review a change in prison policy that the AP reported has released more than 850 inmates early since September. The agency abandoned a policy that required all prisoners to serve 61 days before receiving good-conduct time off their sentences. Inmates were getting credit for months of good time as soon as they entered prison - before they had a chance to display their behavior. Corrections said it was saving money in a budget crisis by not transferring the inmates to other prisons for short terms.