IL Proposing to Post Photos of Early Release Inmates
The Department of Corrections would be required to post online the pictures and identification information of former inmates who receive early release if legislation introduced by state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, is signed into law. Reported in the Fox Valley Villages Sun.
“This is a commonsense practice that might have deterred some of the problems and abuses we saw occur with the Quinn administration’s flawed early release program,” Dillard said in a press release. “As the sponsor of Illinois’ Truth in Sentencing law, I was infuriated by the Quinn administration’s early release of prisoners who were violent criminals or involved in a murder.
“Some early release inmates served only days of their sentence in an Illinois penitentiary. That is a mockery of our system of law enforcement, and a mockery of their victims and their victims’ families.”
Senate Bill 3411 would require the DOC to place a recent picture of the inmate on its Web site within three days of the inmate’s release. The Web site would not only include the inmate’s name and age, but also his or her physical attributes, address, the offense that was committed and the county where the conviction took place.
Dillard said the DOC would be required to leave the information on the site until the inmate successfully completes the first year of his or her mandatory supervised release, or is returned to the custody of the department.
“Not only will making this information public bring peace of mind to concerned citizens, posting the information online could be a simple way to prevent someone from being seriously injured — or worse,” Dillard said.
The measure was unanimously approved by the Illinois Senate and must now win House approval.
The Bill is available online.
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