Illinois Prisons Overcrowded

[Forevermah]

Illinois Prisons Overcrowded

By Fanna Haile-Selassie

Story Created: Aug 25, 2011 CDT


WSIL-TV -- Some area lawmakers are sounding the alarm about prison overcrowding. It's a problem that could get worse as roughly 1,000 prison guards become eligible for retirement within the next year.

Just take a look at some of the ratios of inmates to staff in area prisons. During the evening, Big Muddy prison has an inmate to staff ratio of 28:1, Pinckneyville is 25:1, and Shawnee is 24:1. Senator John O. Jones says he wants to see staffing levels down to 12:1, which is a big jump from where some of these prisons are now.

Illinois state legislatures have spent many years tightening up laws to keep criminals off the street. Now, the state is having trouble housing those criminals.

"We have almost 50,000 inmates in a system designed for about 33,000," notes John Maki, the executive director of the John Howard Association.

And it's growing worse. According to a state prison monitoring group, there's now about 4,000 more inmates in the system since last year. The increase came after Governor Pat Quinn did away with the Meritorious Good Time program that released prisoners early for good behavior.

"In prisons, it's not just double-bunking. We're seeing inmates being placed in the gymnasium, in the infirmary, place which inmates really shouldn't be housed," says Maki.

As the state packs in more inmates, staffing levels are starting to become a concern. So much so, senators John O. Jones and Shane Cultra are taking on the issue.

"What really concerns me is there's no cadet classes scheduled, and this fiscal year, they have a potential of having a thousand guards retire. So there's nobody to replace these people," explains Cultra.

The two lawmakers say they want to let the public in on the problem, in hopes of building pressure on the governor. While they say they will work with Governor Quinn to find a solution, they believe he has to take the lead before Illinois has an even bigger mess on its hands.

In May, the United States Supreme Court told California it had to reduce its prison population by roughly 33,000 inmates within the next two years, either by moving them into local jails or letting them go.

http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Illinois-Prisons-Overcrowded-128418123.html

Watch the video at the link above.

[Jackster]

I am loving these articles! Thank you for posting them. I agree the need to keep the pressure on Quinn!

[RT]

The only pressure that Quinn is going to understand is when a REAL candidate for his job comes forth with a plan that stops the waste of taxpayer dollars by keeping non violent inmates in prison. 1000 CO's are set to retire in the next year. He has no plan to replace them. These prisons do not run themselves. Quinn has his head so far up his ass it is pitiful. The man is a jerk and I for one will not vote for him again. Once is enough!


Rick

[Angela]

AMEN... AMEN...   AMEN.......      

[matetoo]

I concur!! The only thing I can figure out is he has some plan and he will unveil it as a tool to make himself look like a great GOV......right. :)

[Marks_guy]

I concur!! The only thing I can figure out is he has some plan and he will unveil it as a tool to make himself look like a great GOV......right. :)

You know, that is a real possibility. Politicians like to use our pains and struggles as tools for their popularity contest. Sometimes I wonder if there is a secret class they take that teaches the art of waiting until the last possible moment before acting.

[snshess]

Agree....Agree....Agree....with everyone.  I to feel he will wait until the last minute and then he will be on cloud 9 with everyone.

[matetoo]

You know I am a very fortunate and blessed I have had a wonderful life and family. And not until I met my future husband before he was sentenced for 3 yrs for not showing up to jail due to illiness and driving sober on a supended DL did I even pay attention to the prison system. It had never effected me or any family members so I did notice the system as I see it now. I now speak of the breakdown of the IL Prison system to all I know and I have a son in law that is a police officer and he even agrees with me and the injustice to my fiance' and the harshness of the sentence. This is his first time in the system and he went in first of this yr and will be released max time left 5 months with out MGT. He has already graduated with A+ in one college class. But the money wasted by the state with his and thousands of others with not violent and victimless crimes is beyond most Americans thoughts just like it was mine at one time. I know there has to be a better way............

[jcruz1104]

Matetoo kinda funny you say that cuz i have gone thru this before :( but i don't ever remember it being this bad, I have been talking to people like you that have (had) no idea, and they are discusted about the whole thing..

Lets just home when the "powers may be" meet, there is some time of a program and they get it  put in place soon.

[Mjdrg]

I hope we see more of these articles come out across the state as Illinois congress heads back into session this fall! Maybe we have a chance of seeing some of the lawmakers come on board to at least push these issues into Quinn's face. While I do agree he will only do anything when it suits him, maybe negative press from not only the public but the lawmakers as well will force those blinders off a little more! Hopefully these senators will pick up those bills that got left behind last session and get them through!

[RT]

We finally got a sponsor at the last minute. But Quinn told Madigan not to move on them or he would veto it. The point is moot until the Big Baby gets his way.

Rick

[Mjdrg]

Ugh, I think Quinn has forgotten he works FOR the people and the state of Illinois - not the other way around! I hope she ignores him!

[JDsMom]

The best we can do is keep writing senators John O. Jones and Shane Cultra , and supporting their efforts. Quinn can ignore it or do somethng about it. But the People of this state will not ignore this issue when it comes time for elections.

[RT]

Then you get stories the this one.....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-armed-and-extremely-dangerous-suspect-sought-in-2-south-suburban-shootings-20110826,0,290441.story?track=rss

Makes the whole program look bad.


Rick

[Forevermah]

Exactly RT, it's because of a few, like this guy that caused the program to be halted, but you are always going to have a few and  not right to punish everyone!
 
 One of the things I think they need to look at very closely, is how many times someone has been inside and the reasons and maybe take the privilege of any early release away!  I hope they are working on a solution, but will Quinn have the courage to implement a new program under his watch??

[RT]

Where is there a Like button when you need one? They are like cops, when you do not need them, they are all over!   


Rick

[JDsMom]

 
Senator John O. Jones (R) - Previous General Assembly (94th)
54th District
  
Springfield Office:
Senator 54th District
103D Capitol Building
Springfield, IL   62706  
(217) 782-0471
  
 
District Office:
2929 Broadway
P.O. Drawer 1787
Mt. Vernon, IL  62864  
(618) 242-9511
 johnojones@sbcglobal.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senator Shane Cultra (R)
53rd District
  
Springfield Office:
Senator 53rd District
311 A Capitol Building
Springfield, IL   62706  
(217) 782-6597
  
 
District Office:
104 W. Lincoln Ave
Onarga, IL  60955  
(815) 268-4090
 
 Constituent e-mail: ShaneCultra53@yahoo.com


You can read more on this at :
http://jones.senategop.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=421:jones-a-cultra-issue-warning-on-chronic-idoc-security-understaffing&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=26

[mandyriguez]

violent crimes need to be looked at differently...not e1 should be getting good time. Seriously look at his record 4 times on weapons charges. It doesnt take a genius to figure out who should get the good time and who should have to serve every minute of the full sentence. I had a guy shoot my sons car and my house. It went thru the matress I slept on while I was sleeping. He got BOOT CAMP....really?! He got out last month and he had 2 priors of violent crimes.....there was deff a dummy in his sentencing!

[RT]

We can start with the judge who recommended him for Boot Camp. If he/she is a circuit court judge, they have to come up for retention every 4 years I think. Find out what the judges name, and I will tell you when their time is. If they do not receive 60% I think, they are not brought back to the bench. Word of mouth can do terrible things. Just look at some of the rumors that fly around the prisons!


Rick

[RT]

If I wasn't a criminal, I would run for Governor! 


Rick

[Forevermah]

JONES & CULTRA ISSUE WARNING ON CHRONIC IDOC SECURITY UNDERSTAFFING    


MT. VERNON, IL - As the Illinois Department of Corrections’ population is swelling to new heights, State Sens. John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon) and Shane Cultra (R-Onarga) are sounding the alarm about chronic understaffing at the state’s penitentiaries.

“The real numbers are astounding when looking at the security staff-to-inmate ratios on each shift. Correctional officers are fully aware that their job is dangerous, but these numbers will give the most seasoned officer even reason to pause,” Jones said.

“We have a correctional population that is hovering at nearly 48,200 inmates and the Quinn administration that shows little interest in seriously addressing our public safety issues,” Cultra said.  


The Senators highlighted their four in-district institutions with the number of inmates and per-shift staffing ratios as of August 1.

                                                                    1st              2nd                  3rd
Big Muddy River (Ina)  1,922 inmates  17.79 to 1    27.85 to 1    34.94 to 1
Centralia                      1,550 inmates    12.30 to 1    16.31 to 1    20.94 to 1
Dwight                               999 inmates    7.62 to 1    11.61 to 1    14.69 to 1
Pontiac                           1,772 inmates    7.00 to 1    12.13 to 1    15.54 to 1

 


Jones and Cultra said the staffing ratios will only get worse as time goes on. It is estimated that hundreds of security personnel will retire in the coming fiscal year, and Department of Corrections officials have no plans to begin any cadet classes in the coming months.

“Each institution has its own challenges and obstacles, but to know that one guard may be in charge of moving 100 inmates at a time and not have any backup is certainly not an easy feeling,” Jones said. “We have had occasions at Big Muddy where staff has been assaulted and at least one inmate killed in recent years.”

“Back in April, I saw first-hand the dedicated security staff who were working at Dwight and Pontiac and acknowledged that they put their lives on the line every day,” Cultra said. “The Quinn-appointed bureaucrats running the agency are failing to support front-line workers every day.”

The Senators have all security staff ratios on their Web sites, www.jones.senategop.org and www.senatorcultra.com. All figures listed on the Senators’ Web sites were obtained from the Department of Corrections.

Jones and Cultra offered suggestions on how to increase the number of front-line security staff with the most minimal impact on the overall budget situation.

•    Elimination of Violence Prevention Authority and Neighborhood Recovery Initiative - $30 million was spent in FY 11 alone;  
•    Elimination of shared services contract with the Department of Central Management Services;
•    Selling off non-essential or contractually-obligated  proprieties like warden’s homes, hunting cabins or river front lands;
•    Reduced number of prisoner transfers;
•    Elimination of non-essential parole agent driving to and from home with state vehicles;
•    Survey of all non-front line staff security positions created since former Director Randle’s tenure;
•    Reduce vendor contacts, begin producing more goods inside the correctional centers again;
•    Install the time keeping hardware;
•    Better accounting principles.

http://jones.senategop.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=421:jones-a-cultra-issue-warning-on-chronic-idoc-security-understaffing&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=26

 

[mandyriguez]

this was in williamson county where they have their own "little click" n basically their own laws. so it really doesnt matter. I've been over it a thousand times even with the news people and I get no place...I'm just saying it doesnt take a genius to figure out who should or shouldn't get good time...they just need to look at the nature of the crime and history of that person.

[Forevermah]

this was in williamson county where they have their own "little click" n basically their own laws. so it really doesnt matter. I've been over it a thousand times even with the news people and I get no place...I'm just saying it doesnt take a genius to figure out who should or shouldn't get good time...they just need to look at the nature of the crime and history of that person.

They did exactly that in a lot of cases, there are many convictions that never got any MGT or SMGT and if a new program ever comes back, the restrictions are going to be even tougher.

[hisbaby]

We do need a like button for that last comment Rick, I would vote for you! 

[Bill]

Senator John O. Jones (R) - Previous General Assembly (94th)
54th District
  
Springfield Office:
Senator 54th District
103D Capitol Building
Springfield, IL   62706  
(217) 782-0471
  
 
District Office:
2929 Broadway
P.O. Drawer 1787
Mt. Vernon, IL  62864  
(618) 242-9511
 johnojones@sbcglobal.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senator Shane Cultra (R)
53rd District
  
Springfield Office:
Senator 53rd District
311 A Capitol Building
Springfield, IL   62706  
(217) 782-6597
  
 
District Office:
104 W. Lincoln Ave
Onarga, IL  60955  
(815) 268-4090
 
 Constituent e-mail: ShaneCultra53@yahoo.com


You can read more on this at :
http://jones.senategop.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=421:jones-a-cultra-issue-warning-on-chronic-idoc-security-understaffing&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=26

Be very careful before supporting what these two are saying.  There is not about MGT, changing sentencing etc. what they are suggesting may make prison life more miserable seems to be. We need real reform not windowdressing and MGT needs to be put back. I suggest writing Governor Quinn and urging MGT be put back.

[matetoo]

Once again look at the charges that had been against the person in the artical how many times he had been charged and convicted and still got only 4 years. Then look at a first time offender my LO and for a sober charge on driving on Suspended license and not reporting to jail because of illness was given 3 years. Makes no sense it!!!! It needs to start with the judges that had down this BS!!!! Laws and judges and what they are handed down need to be changed and be consistant!!! 

[jcruz1104]

i dont know why but i decided to randomly look at facilties and what thier capicity is..
out of the 10 i looked at, 6 were with in 20 "spots" of max cap, and the rest were exactly AT the max cap... i wonder does that mean that those facilities are overcrowded literally or should we believe that thye just are not taking inmates at those facilities??

I am just not understanding how the "higher ups" dont see this as overcrowded...
i dont get it.

Am i not reading this or getting it right?

[TimeStandsStill]

Be very careful before supporting what these two are saying.  There is not about MGT, changing sentencing etc. what they are suggesting may make prison life more miserable seems to be. We need real reform not windowdressing and MGT needs to be put back. I suggest writing Governor Quinn and urging MGT be put back.

Unless I am misunderstanding the article, I take what these 2 senators are proposing is finding ways to make cuts in the budget in order to pay for increased prison guard personnel.  Although nothing specific is mentioned about MGT that is one factor as to why they need additional guards besides the upcoming retirement of some.  What specifically am I to be careful of here? 

[TimeStandsStill]

Then you get stories the this one.....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-armed-and-extremely-dangerous-suspect-sought-in-2-south-suburban-shootings-20110826,0,290441.story?track=rss

Makes the whole program look bad.


Rick

Maybe I read things differently than others but that has to do with the 50% Statutory Good Time not MGT or SMGT but I understand that the general public probably wouldn't realize there is a difference and what the difference is.

[jdmlt]

Be very careful before supporting what these two are saying.  There is not about MGT, changing sentencing etc. what they are suggesting may make prison life more miserable seems to be. We need real reform not windowdressing and MGT needs to be put back. I suggest writing Governor Quinn and urging MGT be put back.

Bill, I am also wondering on your warning.  Are you saying that the money saved will not help our inmates. The money saved will not give more programs etc. ?

[Forevermah]

Then you get stories the this one.....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-armed-and-extremely-dangerous-suspect-sought-in-2-south-suburban-shootings-20110826,0,290441.story?track=rss

Makes the whole program look bad.


Rick

Maybe I read things differently than others but that has to do with the 50% Statutory Good Time not MGT or SMGT but I understand that the general public probably wouldn't realize there is a difference and what the difference is.

  You are right, he did not get any MGT or SMGT but he did get the 50% Statutory GT and just the fact that he only served 1/2 of his 4 year sentence makes it bad on everyone who would be eligible to earn more GT if a new MGT-SMGT program comes back, on top of the 50% SGT.

Like you said, the average person doesn't know the difference and any extra time off for any inmates in their eyes is wrong!

I really would HOPE, that if people were more educated about this whole mess, they might change their minds, look at all the members we get here that have different view points about Prison, once their LO's get into the system!!!

[Forevermah]

Be very careful before supporting what these two are saying.  There is not about MGT, changing sentencing etc. what they are suggesting may make prison life more miserable seems to be. We need real reform not windowdressing and MGT needs to be put back. I suggest writing Governor Quinn and urging MGT be put back.

Bill, I am also wondering on your warning.  Are you saying that the money saved will not help our inmates. The money saved will not give more programs etc. ?

The money saved and proposed by these two senators, would go to pay for Prison Guards and not to help inmates, I think what Bill is saying that some of the things these two propose would actually hurt inmates in the long run. 

If you look at the list of things they want to cut, the ones that stand out to me , I've put a few in red that may not be good for inmates.


•    Elimination of Violence Prevention Authority and Neighborhood Recovery Initiative - $30 million was spent in FY 11 alone;  
•    Elimination of shared services contract with the Department of Central Management Services;   THIS IS QUESTIONABLE, what contracts?????
•    Selling off non-essential or contractually-obligated  proprieties like warden’s homes, hunting cabins or river front lands;
•    Reduced number of prisoner transfers;
•    Elimination of non-essential parole agent driving to and from home with state vehicles;
•    Survey of all non-front line staff security positions created since former Director Randle’s tenure;
•    Reduce vendor contacts, begin producing more goods inside the correctional centers again;  THIS MIGHT GOOD, put our inmates to work inside!
•    Install the time keeping hardware;
•    Better accounting principles.



RT, didn't I just make a comment to you that I found this funny that two Republican Senators started this to begin with, they are usually TOUGHER on crime and their cuts would be bigger.

[TimeStandsStill]

May be tougher on crime but traditionally the Republican platform is less government.

[rottiemama2003]

If I wasn't a criminal, I would run for Governor!  


Rick

Rick, that is who are governor are! and the others just has not been caught yet. Think about the illegal holding of people, and the conditions they keep people in.Not a political. Will probably get in all kinds of trouble for this

Rottie

[TimeStandsStill]

We can start with the judge who recommended him for Boot Camp. If he/she is a circuit court judge, they have to come up for retention every 4 years I think. Find out what the judges name, and I will tell you when their time is. If they do not receive 60% I think, they are not brought back to the bench. Word of mouth can do terrible things. Just look at some of the rumors that fly around the prisons!


Rick

Here's something relating to judges:



Illinois justices won’t use recall power for reappointments
AP Staff Aug. 26, 2011

 
Justices on the Illinois Supreme Court say they'll stop using their recall power to reappoint Cook County judges who have lost their elections.

A court spokesman tells the Chicago Tribune that the justices reached that decision privately months ago.

The Tribune reported Friday that the Supreme Court has reappointed 18 judges to the Cook County Circuit Court bench since 2000 after voters rejected them. Those judges include 13 currently hearing cases.

The Tribune says the court promised to end the practice nearly 20 years ago but didn't.

Malcolm Rich is executive director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, and he pushed to change the practice in 1993. Rich says it isn't authorized by the Illinois Constitution and he's hoping the court follows through this time.

http://www.wbez.org/story/illinois-justices-won%E2%80%99t-use-recall-power-reappointments-91087#

[holterfield2]

Budget woes handcuff Ill. prisons



August 29, 2011 6:03 AM



Illinois Statehouse News



State budget constraints are creating real safety concerns in Illinois' prison system for some legislators.

Already short-staffed, according to state Sen. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga, the Illinois Department of Corrections could lose up to 1,000 prison guards in the next year because of retirement.

"This is something that just can't wait any longer. ... It's bad now. What's it going to be like when you lose 1,000 guards?" Cultra questioned.

He was joined by state Sen. John O. Jones, R-Mount Vernon. Both senators have two prisons in their districts. They said they are concerned about the staff-to-prisoner ratio at all corrections facilities.

Each facility in the state has a ratio of about one prison guard for every 20 prisoners, according to figures released by Cultra and Jones.

But Sharyn Elman, spokeswoman for corrections, said the two senators' numbers are flawed.

"You can't do an overall comparison. How would you compare and say that it would be the same (number of guards needed) in maximum security facilities as at a minimum security facility? They're comparing apples to oranges," Elman said.

Elman said that for the state's super maximum, maximum and medium security prisons, the staffing levels are at one guard for every six inmates.

The Department of Corrections had a plan to train at least four new cadet classes averaging about 150 students a class during this fiscal year, which started July 1, but state budget constraints could put a damper on that, Elman said.

She said meetings among corrections staff members are planned during the next several weeks to determine just how much money is available to spend on training new guards.

New guards would join the ranks of about 10,000 guards in keeping watch over the almost 49,000 inmates being held by the state, according to the Department of Corrections.

That's another number that worries Jones, Cultra and others about Illinois' correction system.

Illinois prisons initially were built to hold 33,373 prisoners. Corrections officials, however, switched how they determine that number by counting the number of beds a prison can hold instead of the number of cells. By doing so, the corrections officials could show that the facilities were technically not overcrowded.

Prisoners have 34 square feet of living space, or slightly more space that one finds in a typical bathroom, according to the Department of Corrections.

Thomson, the newest prison in Illinois, is being sold to the federal government, because the state can't afford to operate it.

"We've passed a lot of laws over the last few years, and we're putting more and more people into prison, and so our population on the inmate side is really growing, and the staffing levels are going down," Jones said.

Gov. Pat Quinn put a hold on one early release program following political pressure when it was revealed that hundreds of inmates were put back on the streets after serving just a few weeks of their sentence in 2009. Quinn pushed the blame onto Michael Randle, then-director of the Department of Corrections, for what he called a "mistake."

Illinois could face a similar situation as California, where the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the state to decrease its prison population by about 30,000 because of overcrowding.

Jones and Cultra said they want to see a combination of early-release programs and new hires to combat the discrepancy.

To pay for new guards, and maybe even a new prison, Jones suggested eliminating the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority. Created in 1995, the authority gives grants to various organizations throughout the state to administer anti-violence programs.

Jones said the state could save more than $30 million.

Cultra has a more novel way of generating cash for new guards.

"Corrections, they use to produce their own milk, they use to have their own cattle operation. There's a lot of things they could do to not only produce better food, locally, and distribute it through the prison system, we could save money by doing that," Cultra said.

[rottiemama2003]

Wondering are they planning to sponsor a new early release bill in Nov.

[RT]

They can sponsor one all they want. Quinn has said that anything coming from the legislature will be vetoed. I do not know if he even knows what he wants at this point.


Rick

[rottiemama2003]

You got to love him.. at least he is standing firm on something

[chantygirl]

I think I'd rather he sit down, and get off his feet for awhile 

[rottiemama2003]

  Is he tired?

[lbattle40]

  kinda hard 2 get tired from doing nuthin.   

[veracity]

Depression can make someone really tired. I'd be all depressed knowing I was going to lose my job come election time. I'd be even more depressed if I thought I could end up like Blago or Ryan or Walker. 

[rottiemama2003]

Ibattle: you know the expression he is tired not fatigued, not doing his job... How is the family doing? How is your son, I think about him often.

[TeArSInThErAiN]

Does anyone know why quinn says that he will veto anything that comes from the legislators about good time??

[Marks_guy]

Does anyone know why quinn says that he will veto anything that comes from the legislators about good time??

Mostly because he is throwing a temper tantrum. The legislature rejected HIS budget, and proceeded to adopt one of their own.

[drgnldy]

"Corrections, they use to produce their own milk, they use to have their own cattle operation. There's a lot of things they could do to not only produce better food, locally, and distribute it through the prison system, we could save money by doing that," Cultra said.

In the Wisconsin prison system, there are 2 farms. They milk 420 cows around the clock and also have a steer feedlot, a cash crop, and a creamery that provides milk and ice cream to the DOC inmates. All the work is done by inmates. Female inmates run the 3rd shift milking operations. I couldn't find anything that reported how much money is saved in the long run, but it has to save some for the state to continue the operations.

[jenplus2]

Thank you for posting that, drgnldy, it's good to know some states aren't completely ass backwards. Something that makes sense is foriegn to IDOC. And the concept of anything that makes sense is too difficult for Illinois politicians to comprehend.

[fromcolorado]

This is already industry work in IDOC. Menard (on the Hill) makes several of the turkey-soy products served in prison. So does Vandalia. Illinois River makes most of the baked desserts for the system. Centralia does the juices and they make the socks and underwear. Several institutions already have gardens such as Pittsfield WC. Tamms sells their hay from the fields. There definitely could be more work going on inside the system, but this is a mostly a smokescreen.

[bmonska]

This is already industry work in IDOC. Menard (on the Hill) makes several of the turkey-soy products served in prison. So does Vandalia. Illinois River makes most of the baked desserts for the system. Centralia does the juices and they make the socks and underwear. Several institutions already have gardens such as Pittsfield WC. Tamms sells their hay from the fields. There definitely could be more work going on inside the system, but this is a mostly a smokescreen.

HUbby said even with the garden at Pittsfield, they hardley ever pick much of anything. He said once they had them pick some brocolli but it wasn't even really ready to be picked yet. He said it's really under-utilized unfortunately.

[rottiemama2003]

Menard, use to have cattle and they would feed their prison, Statesville  farm once feed them.

[siouxchief77]

Hey Rick I agree with you on just about everything my son is in taylorville he got laid off and insurance lasp he got a ticket in clinton county, that judge gave him probation he was doing everything he was suppose to do he got his drivers license back after the judge suspended it,had it three months the judge resuspended it, my son didnot get notified the police in breese pulled up behind him at the bank arrested him driving on a suspended license and the judge sentenced him to two years right after the public defender pulled us in a room and told us he was going to do thirty days in the county jail I even got on the stand and begged him not to I just had major surgery and my husband is disabled and wheel chair bound I need him at home that judge all but called us liars and it made no difference non violent traffic offense I have lost all respect for the law now my son is a felon.

[Sunidaze67]

Our state is nothing but farmland.  If they allowed them to farm it they would eat better, save money on soy, and they would get outside more often.  Work off that frustration that can cause other problems.  Seems like a fair trade to me.  
Suni

[veracity]

I'm sorry for your son Sioux. Luckily he has you to help him through the injustice. No judges/politicians want to be viewed as soft on crime so the sentencing is out of control. Guys are working & getting their lives together, the offense happened long ago yet we send them to prison at taxpayer expense in the name of winning an election. It's supposed to be about justice and public safety!!

We were told probation for sure. My son had a good job and the alledged crime occurred at age 17.
 2 1/2 years before he was sentenced, 1st time felon. Had never even been on probation. Friends, family and neighbors drove 100+ miles and got up so early that morning. They spoke of his kindness and need to help others and numerous animal rescues. I told the judge how we'd just lost my husband, his dad to a brain aneurysm and how my son was at risk for one, too due to family history. Showed his paperwork telling him my son needs to be screened for them. How I'd just purchased a home and needed help. How he really stepped it up and became a man since his dad died. But there was the one aggravating factor that no one mentioned.
TO DETER OTHERS. 5 YEARS. I was in a complete state of shock. Still am kinda. I actually can handle my husbands sudden death better than my son's wrongful conviction. Death is natural. We'll all have to face that someday but to be wrongfully convicted is just something that's not supposed to happen. I am a little paranoid now. Went out last weekend and had A beer. Was scared driving home. Knowing what they can do to you is almost terrifying. Still trying to keep hope in the system though.