Signed by Governor Pat Quinn

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the award of sentence credit for various inmate activities through the Department of Corrections' early release program.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the award of sentence credit through the Department of Corrections’ early release program for certain inmate activities including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):
• Successful completion of a behavior modification program, a life skills course, or a substance abuse program while incarcerated; or
• Service to the correctional institution, a community, or the state.

• Authorizes the award of 60 days of sentence credit to any inmate who passes the high school level test of General Educational Development (GED) during incarceration or pre-trial detention (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the award of sentence credit to an inmate who was held in pre-trial detention prior to incarceration and successfully completed one of the following programs (Sec. 5):
• A full-time, 60 day or longer substance abuse program;
• An educational program;
• A behavior modification program;
• A life skills course; or
• Re-entry planning provided by the Department of Corrections or a county jail.

• Specifies that sentence credit awarded to an inmate who was held in pre-trial detention will be calculated during the inmate’s sentencing, and that the credit will be used to reduce the number of days that the inmate will be incarcerated (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits an inmate who is serving a term for first degree murder or for terrorism from receiving sentence credit through the early release program (Sec. 5).

• Limits an inmate who is serving a sentence for any of the following crimes to no more than 4.5 days of sentence credit per month (Sec. 5):
• An attempt to commit first degree murder;
• Aggravated sexual assault;
• Aggravated kidnapping; or
• Solicitation of murder.

• Limits an inmate who is serving a sentence for any of the following crimes to no more than 7.5 days of sentence credit per month (Sec. 5):
• Controlled substance trafficking;
• Possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture that substance; or
• Delivery of a controlled substance.

• Limits an inmate who is serving a sentence for any of the following crimes to no more than 90 days of sentence credit (Sec. 5):
• Reckless homicide while under the influence of alcohol or any other drug;
• Aggravated kidnapping;
• Child pornography; or
• Predatory sexual assault of a child.

• Authorizes the award of up to 180 days of sentence credit to inmates who demonstrate good conduct including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):
• Compliance with rules and regulations of the Department of Corrections;
• Service to the Department of Corrections; or
• Service to the community.

Full Bill Text