ILLINOIS (WREX) 鈥� After calls from state lawmakers and a Freedom of Information Act Request from Illinois Senate Republicans, the Illinois Department of Corrections releases a list of every inmate released from state prisons since March 1.
聽are almost 4,000 inmates that had their sentence commuted by either Gov. JB Pritzker, or were released by the Illinois Department of Corrections. According to court records, some of those released were convicted of violent crimes 鈥� 64 of them for murder, four of them convicted here in the Stateline.
It is the most expansive list of inmates released from Illinois prisons since the pandemic started.聽. This new list released by IDOC shows a much larger number of inmates and violent crimes.
Pritzker has defended his move to commute sentences multiple times at his afternoon press conferences. He continuously says most inmates were near the end of their sentences.
"I think some of you may know and understand because I've said it many times from this podium. I want to keep the risk to people across the state as low as possible," Governor Pritzker said at the podium on Tuesday, April 21. "The risk of COVID-19 and the risk from somebody who has done something wrong in their past."
What is not clear is why these inmates are being released and if it is related to COVID-19.
"Please note that neither the Governor nor the Prisoner Review Board have commented upon the reasons why any individual has been granted or denied a request for Commutation of Sentence," Jason Sweat, Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board said in an email to 13 WREX.
Nonetheless, some local lawmakers, Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea and Winnebago County State's Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross have all spoken against the move to release inmates.
"It is very concerning that we would allow violent felons and murderers who have committed heinous crimes back out in the public, and early from sentences," Chief O'Shea said in a phone interview on April 21.
In a statement sent to 13 WREX on Monday, Hite Ross said her office is having trouble notifying victims and families of victims before inmates who committed crimes are released.
"... The granting of such furloughs under Governor Pritzker鈥檚 Disaster Proclamation triggers my obligation to notify the victims pursuant to the Rights of Crime Victim鈥檚 Act and the Illinois Constitution," Her statement said. "The lack of appropriate notice to my office regarding the early release of these individuals hinders my ability to notify victims and family members in a timely manner. As Winnebago County State鈥檚 Attorney, I will continue to oppose the early release and furlough of violent offenders back into the Winnebago County community,"
State Rep. John Cabello 鈥� (R) Machesney Park, has been calling for the state to release more information for weeks. He originally released a list of names of inmates who had their sentences commuted, one included a man convicted of a Rockford murder who was serving 25 years in Dixon Correctional Center, Brian Harrington.
"The administration is showing that they do not want to be transparent in any way, shape or form, especially when it comes to murderers now," Cabello said.
Including Harrington, the list released Tuesday shows more convicted murderers from the Stateline have been released. They include James Price, who was sentenced to 55 years for a murder in Stephenson County. IDOC records show he was in custody starting in January 1992. Eugene Flint was sentenced to more than 75 years for a murder in Winnebago County. Records show he was in custody for that charge in September 1983. Finally, Howard Dunn, who was sentenced for murder. The list shows he was discharged, so he is no longer in the online database kept by IDOC.
To read the full list of inmates released,聽
