Quinn says IDOC chief went rogue, didn't 'follow directives'

Gov. Pat Quinn says violent offenders were released early from prison under a non-publicized, money-saving program because his corrections chief went rogue.

Quinn told the Daily Herald editorial board Friday that he "told him repeatedly" that he did not want violent criminals released early.

"In carrying out that plan, he didn't follow my directives," Quinn said.

But Quinn isn't going to fire Michael Randle, the head of the Illinois Department of Corrections whom he appointed in June.

Instead, Quinn added a top-level employee to work under Randle to vet every early-release case to be sure violent offenders are not set free before serving their sentence. Quinn said he hired veteran Chicago Police Department executive Michael McCotter rather than fire Randle because Randle knows he made a mistake.

McCotter's salary will be $115,000, according to the governor's office.

Quinn, a Chicago Democrat, added that the second corrections executive is needed to monitor the early releases regardless of the brewing scandal.

"To begin with, it is a dysfunctional system," Quinn said of early release.

Randle has previously acknowledged that Quinn told him to release only nonviolent, low-level offenders, but that in some cases he advanced "meritorious good time" credits to other prisoners.

Criticism of Quinn's early release program has thrown a wrench in his primary election campaign.

The story broke late last month that his administration had decided to accelerate the awarding of so-called "meritorious good time" for prisoners who hadn't even served a day in state prison, thus allowing them to be set free months in advance.

The Associated Press found in several cases, the prisoners set free were charged with violent crimes like domestic abuse and weapons violations.

The issue has drawn sharp criticism from Quinn's primary opponent, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, and Republicans alike.

Quinn argued Friday that the prisoners released were set free about 37 days early, on average, and many had already served considerable stints in county jail.

Overall, Quinn attempted to point the blame at lawmakers who refused to back his call for an income tax rate increase. The early release program was needed to save money as the state struggles under an $11 billion shortfall, Quinn said.

"The bottom line is Illinois is facing the greatest fiscal calamity," he said.

The primary is Feb. 2.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=349500">Quinn says tax hikes may come right after primary <span class="date">[01/08/10]</span></a></li>

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