The issue of the Illinois Department of Corrections is a big one with no easy answers — No. 1 being it involves the state and money.
Obviously, our state leaders are not good at a budget since we have a $5 billion deficit.
While it is accepted that something must be done to alleviate this deficit, letting repeat offenders out of prison is not the answer.
East Peoria Detective Sgt. Shannon Swearingen provided some startling examples in last week’s edition.
Police arrested Ronald Schumm of East Peoria Sept. 12, 2009, on charges of obtaining and misusing a debit card. Schumm, who had prior arrests, was sentenced to 18 months in the Department of Corrections. He received an award of meritorious good conduct credit and supplemental good conduct credit for a total of 12 months, but then only served 30 days total anyway.
And this was not Schumm’s first time in prison. Swearingen said he had a total of 18 arrests and 28 convictions.
Something is wrong with the justice system when someone breaks the law, goes to prison, gets out and breaks the law again, and is back in prison before the first sentence was even carried out fully.
Another man, Kyle Crim, was arrested for the sale, manufacture and possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver more than 30 grams, which is a felony. He was sentenced to two years in the DOC. He served five-and-a-half months.
Another case Swearingen cited involved a man named John Custer, who was arrested May 7, 2009, for felony possession and use of a firearm. He was sentenced to three years in prison and served nine months.
After being arrested 35 times with 10 convictions, Custer is back out on the street, although on parole.
These examples are just a few of the many.
The public should be outraged. Pressure needs to be put on lawmakers to hold criminals accountable.
The basic concept of accountability begins early in life when children are taught right from wrong and continues in our jobs and personal life.
If the state of Illinois cannot hold criminals accountable, who can?
The issue of good time credit needs to be changed as well. It seems idiotic to reward someone automatically — Schumm was given good time credit after only 10 days in prison.
This practice may be likened to a parent offering their child a treat while they are sitting in time out.
Sure, it takes money to house inmates, but perhaps if sentences were actually carried out, it might serve as more of a deterrent and there would be fewer inmates to house.
