March 17, 2010
                                                                                                                                            
The Department of Corrections (DOC) would be required to post online the pictures and identification information of former inmates who receive early release if legislation introduced by Sen. Dillard is signed into law.

“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. “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 DOC to place on its Web site within three days of the inmate’s release, a recent picture of the inmate. 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.

“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,” said Dillard.

The measure, having been unanimously approved by the Illinois Senate, must now win the approval of the Illinois House.