ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A NEW EARLY RELEASE PROGRAM TO EASE OVERCROWDING IN STATE PRISONS.

GOVERNOR PAT QUINN ENDED EARLY RELEASE BACK IN 2009…WHEN NEWS REPORTS FOUND SOME INMATES WERE BEING LET OUT JUST WEEKS AND IN SOME CASES…JUST DAYS AFTER BEING LOCKED UP. BUT THAT’S LED TO OVERCROWDING…WITH PRISONS PACKED FULL OF HUNDREDS MORE INMATES THAN THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR. REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA FLYNN CURRIE OF CHICAGO SAYS A REVAMPED TIME-OFF-FOR-GOOD- BEHAVIOR SYSTEM MIGHT EASE THE SITUATION.

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THE SENATE HAS ALREADY APPROVE A BILL CREATING THE NEW EARLY RELEASE PROGRAM…BUT IT STILL MUST BE APPROVED BY THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR. IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO VIOLENT OFFENDERS.