Posted by Michelle Manchir at 5:01 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD — Criminals would no longer qualify for good time credit before setting foot in state prison under legislation a House committee approved today.
The measure is a response to Gov. Pat Quinn’s botched early release program that ended after reports surfaced that some criminals who got out were arrested for new offenses. It became a major issue in the final month of the Democratic governor primary campaign between Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes.
The proposal would eliminate prison officials’ authority to award credit to inmates before they begin their terms.
Rep. Dennis Reboletti, R-Elmhurst, a former county prosecutor, sponsored the bill to help curb crimes from inmates who are released early. He said that criminals’ release dates too often are anticipated to be six months earlier than the amount of time they were sentenced to serve.
"A lot of these guys are ending up right back into custody anyway," Reboletti said.
The latest measure complements a law Quinn signed last month that requires prisoners to serve at least 60 days in state custody before they become eligible for good conduct credit.
The measure now goes to the full House, but Reboletti said he will not push for a vote until the Illinois Department of Corrections is fully on board with the plan. Representatives at the committee today said housing inmates for longer periods of time could be problematic for the cash-strapped prisons.
"You’ll need more bed space and there will be a cost," Reboletti said. "But again, I think the number one priority of Illinois is public safety."
The bill would not eliminate prisoners’ ability to collect good time credit for their time served in county jails or their involvement in substance abuse classes and earned college credit while imprisoned.