Gov. Quinn Appoints Former Judge To Head Meritorious Good Time Review
Judge David Erickson will Lead Comprehensive Examination
Gov. Pat Quinn today named legal and criminal justice expert Judge David A. Erickson to lead a comprehensive review of the Department of Correction’s Meritorious Good Time program.
Gov. Quinn recently suspended that program while it undergoes a comprehensive evaluation.
“Judge Erickson is a noted criminal law professor, an ex- judge and a former prosecutor,” said Gov. Quinn.
“His real world experience and deep understanding of the criminal justice system prepares him for this very important task. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I thank him for taking on this vital mission.”
Judge Erickson, who will be an unpaid advisor to the Governor, will conduct a top-to-bottom review of the Meritorious Good Time program.
He will head a team that includes Jerome Stermer, Governor Quinn’s chief of staff and Theodore Chung, general counsel to Governor Quinn.
Judge Erickson will review every aspect of the Department of Correction’s Meritorious Good Time program and present a report to the Governor with deliberate speed.
The review’s goals include, creating policies and procedures that make sure the program’s first concern is always public safety and maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system and the courts’ sentencing of offenders.
“I thank the governor for the opportunity and promise a complete open review of the process,” said Judge Erickson.
Judge Erickson is Senior Lecturer in Law at Chicago-Kent College of Law.
A graduate of John Marshall Law School in 1976, Judge Erickson has served with distinction as: Justice for the Appellate Court of Illinois (1st District); Trial judge and acting-presiding judge at Juvenile Justice; First Assistant State’s Attorney for Cook County, Criminal Courts; Felony Trial Court Judge and Supervising Judge Night Narcotics Courts; and Assistant States Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. (Background sheet attached).
Governor Quinn ordered the suspension of the Meritorious Good Time effort after some concerns regarding the program surfaced.
Under Illinois law, the Department of Corrections can issue credit for meritorious good time served by inmates.
“My mandate to the Department of Corrections is that the public’s safety always comes first. A top-to-bottom review of this program will make sure that we never waver from this all-important goal,” said Governor Quinn.
7:59 pm
Judge Erickson,
I have a question in regards to my sons prison sentence which should of been shortened by 6 months for a Drug Rehab. program he is in. He has been in this program for about 6 months which should have shortened his sentence. He was told he would be released the first week of May but now this has been suspended. He is now not going to come home until November. Is this true? This program is very difficult and there are many inmates that get kicked out because it is so hard to stay in the program. My son has managed to stay in this program for almost the whole 6 months, which he was doing for good time behavior. I understand that many inmates were released very early into thier sentences and ended up back in the system. What about the men that are trying to go along with the system and are keeping thier end of the bargain to get out for good behavior? How long will this program that has been in place for many years be suspended?
Thank you for any answers you might be able to help me with.
Sincerely, Linda Shanley
8:07 pm
I also have the same question. How long will this program be suspended? I have a relative that got sentenced to two years, will she no longer receive good time even if she too reports excellent behavior and is showing positive improvement?
11:57 am
i also would like to know how long is the meritoriouis good time going to be waved ,i have a loved one in prison,i would hope you would give them back their good time the prisons are really crowdedthis would help with the state being broke also.thanks i hope you reinstate this very soon..good time
12:03 pm
My question is the same as above. We have heard nothing regarding when the good time is coming back. All it says is that this process will be done in a speedy manner. I think over three months is long enough. Please let me know when my loved one can come home because he was suppose to be home already.
7:50 pm
WHEN IS THIS GOING TO COME BACK IN. EVERYONE I CALL AND TALK TOO SAYS A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR THEY DONT KNOW. ITS BEEN ALMOST 4 MONTHS NOW WHAT IS THE HOLD UP? MY FIANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME MARCH 12TH, HE IS IN THERE ON AN OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGE AND WAS SENTYENCED TO 18 MO NOW HE IS NOT DUE HOME UNTIL SEPTEMBER PLEASE LET US KNOW SOMETHING!!!!!!
8:45 pm
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOOD TIME, MY SON SHOULD BE LEAVING VANDALIA CORRECTIONAL TODAY!!! I CERTAINLY HOPE SOMEONE IS GETTING CLOSER TO RESOLVING THIS, IT IS FASTLY BECOMING A JOKE, JUST WHAT ILLINOIS NEEDS! WE PAYED ALOT OF VERY HARD EARNED MONEY FOR AN ATTORNEY TO ADVISE MY SON TO GO AHEAD BUDDY AND TAKE THE DEAL, ITS A REALLY GOOD OFFER, ONE MONTH AFTER MUCH TO OUR SUPRISE IT WAS ALREADY SUSPENDED!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SOON, I UNDERSTAND ALL ABOUT THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE, BUT MAYBE INSTEAD OF JUST PUNISHING ALL THE PRISONERS WHO HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, OUR WONDERFUL GOVENOR SHOULD JUST OWN UP TO HIS MISTAKE AND RE-INSTATE A PROGRAM THAT WORKED JUST FINE FOR… 30 YEARS UNTIL HE DECIDED TO FIX IT. THANK YOU
3:20 pm
Is there any way to track what is happening with this suspension? My brother also took a plea deal for which he was to serve 61 days and now won’t be released until Sept. 23rd. He should have been released March 23rd. He would have fought this if he thought he would miss his daughter’s graduation from college in May. As an inmate he keeps hearing rumors that MGT has been reinstated. I’m assuming this is not true and it probably won’t be reinstated until after the election in November. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mary Restko
5:29 pm
my fiance got screwed too…..is there a number i can call…i want to help get this shit back so if someone would please let me know i would be very happen to help….find me on myspace… whitby2009
5:32 pm
this is just a scam to over populate the prisons so that the state would get more money from the feds cause the census….that is bullshit and they should have their kids and boyfriends and family stuck in their and take their unnecessary freedom….f-ing douche bags….the inmates get screwed i think
8:55 am
WE NEED TO KNOW WHEN OUR LOVED ONES WILL BE HOME THIS IS CRAZY MY FRIEND WAS ONLY SUPPOSE TO BE THERE 90 DAYS KNOW THEY ARE SAYING 9 MONTHS WE AND THE INMATES NEED TO KNOW WHAT AND WHEN THIS WILL BE KNOWN GIVE THEM BACK THERE 2 SETS OF 90S THATS ONLY RIGHT
12:08 pm
Is the 6 month good time still suspended? Who answere these questions? I don’t see anyone answering!
11:41 pm
well it looks like no one answers this site. i sure thought we the people would get answers from this site. i have called every office i know to call. this 6 month good time bill needs to be put back into efect. our prisons r over crowed. my loved one was sent to prioson for driven on suspended. with a promise that he would only do about 90 days. as of right now hes going to do 9months. this is a problem in IDOC. this needs to be fixed. tax payers like myself r not willing to pay the price for this. if anyone does read this site you need to update this site an let us know our loved ones will be comen home. to all of you leaven the comments keep doin it. leave them daily if you must. we have the right to speek and they have to listen. thank you!
7:17 am
I allso wanted to know when is good time coming back????? My boyfriend was to be released on april 16th and now there saying till july 21 crazy!!!!!! Threy keep telling him that its back but that there trying not to let every one know because it will get crazy in there!!! so my ? is that true and if not when is good time coming back???? thanks
8:59 am
my son should of been home 04-13-2010 he had 63 days to go please as a parent i need to know when my son will be home s09926 jessejames sutton in vandalia ill. THANK YOU LORA SUTTON
9:14 pm
I have a situation were my husband and brother are both incarcerated and neither of them have received there good time. My brother was taken into custody on OCT 21 2009 before good time was removed and still has not received good time he was on parole and caught another case and sentenced my question is does anyone know do you have to do your parole time first before good time can be issued,any information will help. My husband really got screwed he took a plea in court based on incorrect information given to him by the states attorney that he would only serve 6 months on a two year sentence and once he taken into custody was told the good time was taken away and had to serve a full year. PLEASE GIVE ME ANY INFO YOU HAVE .
CONCERNED WIFE,
TRACIE
12:32 pm
my fiance is locked up. he was supposed to be home in june but now the dumb ass governor suspended good time and he is going to miss the birth of our first son! when is it coming back i cant do this alone!
6:44 pm
I am so sorry for all of you but most of all the inmates that are being punished for others mistakes.
My son is not a violent criminal but is very anxious about MGT since his time is to get out this month.
He lost his twenty year old son in death Feb 17th. and wasn’t allowed to go to the funeral or be with family.He is really suffering and trying to deal with his grief the best he can.We as his family want him home so we can comfort him in our arms.
10:39 pm
MY BOYFRIEND IS SUPPOSE TO BE GETTING OUT 6/9/2010, I NEED TO KNOW WHATS GOING ON WITH THIS GOOD TIME. HE HAS A NEWBORN AT HOME,17MONTH YEAR OLD AND 10 YEAROLD SON THAT NEED HIM AT HOME AND NOW THERE SAYING HE WONT BE GETTIN OUT UNTILL 12/09/2010…….WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IS THE GOOD TIME COMING BACK SOON? WHO CAN I TALK TO OR WRITE?? I NEED TO KNOW WHATS GOING ON.
5:01 pm
i also have a fiance that’s locked up in vienna in i am concern about his out date it suppose to be in jan. of 2011 if he don’t get it he will be out in july he was sentence to 3 years . he was expecting to do 1 yr now he got to do a extra 6 mths and thats not fair . When this decision was made they should tol.d evryone who work in the court rooms (lawyers n judges) to let the people know that there was no more good time . I think you guys is handling this the wrong way we are talking about people lives inmates or not they are still people n we need some answers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A CONCERN WIFE
5:03 am
Hi my brother has been in sience june off 2009 and he has been very sick he has had 4 surguery and about to have his 5 one all because the jail did not follow up with the doctor befor send him to doc he got 5 years and with the meritoriouis good time and his drug classes he would get out in sept off 2010 but now he would be out until march off 2011 i thank this is not fair it wasnt the ones that are all ready in foult so why puinch the ones that did do any thank. this is his frist time in and last time he has learn his lestion i peart she of it have all this going on and no family around to suport him and it is cost them and lot of money to keep him with all the surgyer he is haveing just let him out so his family can take care off him your wunt to cut cost will this will help some.
2:41 am
MY SON IS DUE TO GET OUT AUGUST SIXTH WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOR WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG WERE NOT ASKING FOR HIM TO GET SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT HE DIDN’T DESERVE ALL WE WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO GET THE GOOD TIME BACK HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE IS SUSSPOST TO DO HE JUST WANTS TO GET HIS LIFE BACK HE HAS PLANS TO ENROLL BACK IN COLLEGE WITH HIS FIANCE HE KNOWS HE HAS A HARD ROAD BUT I BELIEVE EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR REASONS AND THIS IS AN OBSTACLE HE CAN OVERCOME. I HOPE WHAT EVERY WAY YOU GUYS DECIDE TO GO WITH THIS WE CAN COME TO A DECISION VERY SOON THE NOT KNOWING IS WORST THAN KNOWING IF IT ISN’T COMING BACK ANY TIME SOON. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS A PARENT ANY INFO. YOU MIGHT HAVE OR WHEN YOU THINK YOU WILL KNOW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! INMATE S10290 MILANE
3:12 am
I am starting a petition of signature’s of people who oppose the mgt act program being revoked.and who want it re-enstated or are opposing the re-election of governor quinn. people are going to prison. over traffic cases,non violentcases? This was revoked because of inmates on parole commiting violent crimes like rape, home invasion,kidnapping; physically harming persons. If your in jail for commiting a violent crime that hurt a person to intentionaly cause physical harm then yes, your mgt should be revoked, but if your in prison for a traffic conviction,narcotics conviction, or something that didn’t cause violent physical harm to a person your mgt should be a right.
2:09 pm
I am asking does anyone know what is going on? My friend took a plea for a non-violent crime and was told he would only do 6 months. He was awarded his first 90 days in December, and denied the second 90 because it was to early to grant them and that is when all the mess started with MGT PUSH. He will have been in for 9 months on August 3rd. Can the prison take back the good time, as he did nothing wrong? He has a non-violent crime (driving on a suspended license) He does not do drugs, drink or anything, he turned his life around completely for the past 16 years and has been completely clean and leading a normal life. It is not the prisoners fault that you or someone allowed the wrong people to get out early to committ more crimes, but they are paying for it and it is not fair. Why can’t you bring back the MGT and SMGT to the non-violent prisoners as the prisons are very overcrowded and the State has such a great deficit. I agree that the safety of the public comes first as I am part of that public, but by taking away the good time you are treating everyone like they are murderers.
Can you please advise us or give us some input as to when Judge Erickson will complete his report, we were told in February, then the beginning of July and now it is the end of July and still nothing, what is going on?
I do not completely understand the purpose of stopping the MGT and SMGT, true a mistake was made but it is not everyon’s fault. Someone needs to suck it up and tell the citizens that a mistake was made and then correct that mistake and get the prisoners home so they can support their families and the state does not have to. I would like to hear from someone and not a note saying MGT & SMGT has been stopped until Judge Erickson finishes his report. We have heard that for 7 months, now it is time for an answer and not another blog with a log of words that say nothing.
10:51 pm
there is already a petition out there on il prison talk forum with 4552 signatures already taken. just log on and have any and everybody you know sign it. What they fail 2 realize is that we as family members still have the ability to vote and imagine what the institutions will be like if you don’t give this mgt back. You think the inmates are stressed out and upset now trying to figure out when it’s coming back. this is costing more than saving more. Like said before those non violent offenders who have earned it shouldn’t pay for Quinn’s fuck up. If he does not implement this time back i wouldn’t give a damn if a broke legged dog ran i would vote for him before i voted for quinn. IL POLITICS GOTTA LOVE IT!! not so much.
5:35 pm
I would also like to know what is going on with good time this is insane my fiance and brother are in prison want me to get anwsers don’t know where to start pretty usuall for our government always have an anwser to everything on t.v. but my god don’t put them on the spot and want a true anwser it’s not going to happen I think no one ever reads these posts, but don’t know who to call, just another run around.
3:50 am
I have three children with someone who is currently encarcerated in IDOC. When he initially went the good time was still going on so we let our children know that when they saw snow that their daddy would be home, we also were encouraged because they were still going to let non-violent offenders out early at that time and he would have qualified, now not only will he not be one of the ones to get out early, but we do not even know at this point when he will be home. It has been frustrating to all of us, because with getting no kind of for sure anwer we don’t know whether to prepare the kids for the reality that he may not come home in time, or wait it out, because no one is giving us any kind of straight forward answers. All we can do is have faith that when it comes his time to get out he will. I really feel for the inmates and their families who were suppose to already have gotten out. It is just not right what is going on and something needs to change quickly.
2:56 am
just bring back good time,,,, please. no good time means more crime but the crime will be in the prisons because the inmates are going to go nuts…. at least bring it back for 1st time flyers, or to inmates that show positive behavior.