The issue of prisoner early release programs has once again fallen into Governor Pat Quinn’s lap.
Quinn is considering a bill approved by lawmakers last month to reinstate a program letting certain non-violent offenders out early if they have a record of good behavior behind bars.
Quinn put a halt to early release programs when controversy over one such initiative became a major political issue in the governor’s 2010 campaign.
Supporters say the program is needed to reduce prison overcrowding. But Republicans tell the Chicago Tribune that Quinn could already implement an early release program now… and suspect the bill is just a way to give him political cover and allow him to blame it on the legislature if a released inmate commits a crime.
