RESTORE GOOD TIME PETITION

[davidswife6]

Sounds like a great idea Dazzler! I  have a question..I called the Governors office and they said the committee does not have a May 1st deadline?? They are telling me now that it could still be a couple months before anything is wrapped up with the good time. They seem to be heartless about this situation.. :(

[Dazzler]

They seem to be stalling until after the election as I predicted.....they think the smoke will clear and no one will care about Quinn's blunder.   They don't consider inmates families as much of a voting threat.....HAH!!!

[davidswife6]

Are you referring to the primary election this month?

[Dazzler]

The primary election was last month.  Quinn won the primary for the Democratic nominee for Governor in the November election.....

[pelphrey]

So I hate to be so negative, but is there any reason to believe that good time will be reinstated any time before Nov.? I just don't wat to get my hopes up, and be let down : (

[lvanrs2]

I believe nothing will be done until after the election, just my own opinion.  There is to much controversy over it right now and not 1 politican wants to take responsibilty for anything.

[Dazzler]

Honestly, no one knows what will happen with good time.  Everyone is HOPING it will be restored for those that have previously earned it and those with more than one year sentences.  Once the legislature got involved and Reboletti introduced this House Bill and Resolution as an opportunity to cause grief to inmates, it's turned into a full blown investigation and political football.  Quinn has screwed up and won't accept responsibility for his failure to oversee the early release program.  The MGT issue is being blamed for his failure.....yet it worked fine for 32 years before Quinn decided to use it for a scapegoat. 

All we can do is make our displeasure known to him through this petition.  We have nearly 1500 signatures in five days...that's phenomenal. 

We need to convince Quinn that not reinstating MGT will be more harmful to his campaign for Governor than keeping it on hold so he'll pick up votes from the 'tough on crime' crowd.  For one thing....those people don't have the passion that we do....

[davidswife6]

When I talked to a man at Gov Quinns office he told me that the mgt should start in about 7 more weeks. I dont know if he is right or not? So Dazzler you think that it wont start back up until the election in November?

[Dazzler]

I'm betting that date conincides with the date the commission is due to report back to the legislature after it's review of MGT.  So the governor's phone answerer is guessing that the commission is going to say MGT should be restored?  Does he have a crystal ball?  Does he know how the House and Senate will vote? 

I repeat, at this point everyone is GUESSING what the outcome will be...my own guess has always been it will be restored after the election....after Quinn is safely in the Governor's mansion and he knows that the budget can't afford NOT to have MGT. This 'hold' right now is costing hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars to the state....

AND if Bill Brady, the Republican nominee is elected....KISS GOOD TIME GOODBYE....he's an inmate hater....think about that when you go to the voting booth in November.  And if you don't bother to go vote...don't cry about the outcome....

[HisGirl]

I am interested to know when the petition will be seen by the Governor. This would be an excellent time to bombard his office with phone calls. Those that made a plea bargain with this good time figured in should not lose it. I wonder if there is any kind of law that would prevent this?

[Dazzler]

BTW...my opinion is also just a guess....but it's been derived from watching this bunch in action in the past....and knowing the shady politics in Illinois...and the mud-slinging used in campaigns and the blame game.....

Just picture this scenario.  The commission Quinn appointed says MGT should be restored.  Quinn restores it prior to the election in November and Brady plasters television with campaign ads saying that Quinn is back to giving murderous thugs and rapists early release from prison....that he screwed up releasing 1700 inmates before that reoffended and now he's unleasing the bowels of the IDOC on the innocent public AGAIN.....how do you think that'll work for him in the voting booth?

[Dazzler]

I highly doubt it HisGirl...a judge can either order day for day good time (50%) or 4.5 days per month (85%) depending on TIS guidelines at the time of his judgement.  No judge has ever ordered the MGT/SMGT into a sentence.  The prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges know that the six month additional good time is available to those with 50% sentences...and they use that six months off as a tool in negotiations...but it's nothing legal and binding.  Nor is school/program credit. 

[Dazzler]

First we bombard Quinn's office on May 24th telling him to choose Art Turner for his running mate for Lt. Gov.  We need a friend in high places in Illinois.  Then prior to the Commission's findings and any vote in the legislature we will bombard Quinn with calls and present the petition.  If a few of you have sent emails to reps and Quinn's office with the link to the petition, I'm sure someone has bothered to log on and read some of the comments.

When you all ask me what can you do to help...this is what you can do to help.  We need to shut down the switchboard in Springfield and Chicago to make them listen to us....we've done it before....and now we are even bigger and stronger....

[HisGirl]

Yeah Dazzler, I could see that happening shady as they are LOL. It will be interesting to see what happens, but I am wondering if Brady stands a chance with Illinois being a typically blue state. It would be nice if we had Art Turner for Lt. Governor, and then they caught Quinn doing something wrong, and made Art Governor LOL.

[chball]

I have also started a local petition that I hoped to get signed by thousands of voters in Illinois. I am sending it North, South, East, and West. I have written letters to the editors of all my local newspapers and to the local news stations. I have also called Senator Bill Brady (217)782-6216 and Senator Kirk Dillard (217)782-8148 who are supporting the new Good Time Bill. Govenor Quinn has made a mistake that all the low-level offenders are paying for while the high-level government officials are saving face. In order to get this good time reinstated we need alot of people to keep calling and writing every week if not every day. Get others in your communities involved!!!

[Dazzler]

Perhaps you could direct your petition signers to our Good Time Restored petition?  We need those thousands of signatures.

[davidswife6]

Hey ladies, I know some of you are going to think that I am nuts but I really want my husband home!! I was wondering if any of you would be willing to go to Springfield and protest with me on Gov Quinns lawn about this good time? I have a feeling it will draw the media which would put us on the news and Gov Quinn will have to make things happen quickly. I am not going to sit around any longer and allow the Governor to do this to our men. If any 1 is interested please let me know and we can figure out a day when we can all meet up. I really need some supporters for this 1, the more people the better!!

[sanchezy25]

hell yea girl im down, get more people and ill go!!!! i want my husband back too... i miss him & myson does too. wen is ur husband supposed get out?  :wc20:lets go kik sum but!!!

[davidswife6]

Im ready!!! Help me get some more people so we can go get our men. My husband was supposed to be home in Feb if he would have gotten his good time, but his actual out date is not until the end of Aug :( We have 4 lil girls and we really want him home!! When is your husband supposed to be out?

[bryteyez67]

 
Hello all,
Thank you for starting the petition, I agree in that it does help and feels productive. I have sent the link to many family members and they have responded with their frustration at the injustice due to someone Else's ignorance. I will be forwarding the link to many more in the morning.

Thank You