* Wouldn’t it be easier if the governor just called in his Department of Corrections director along with the director’s team and made them explain to him why they didn’t follow his orders? Apparently not. We’ve got yet another commission. From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today named legal and criminal justice expert Judge David A. Erickson to lead a comprehensive review of the Department of Correction’s Meritorious Good Time program. Governor Quinn recently suspended that program while it undergoes a comprehensive evaluation.
“Judge Erickson is a noted criminal law professor, an ex- judge and a former prosecutor,” said Governor Quinn. “His real world experience and deep understanding of the criminal justice system prepares him for this very important task. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I thank him for taking on this vital mission.”
Judge Erickson, who will be an unpaid advisor to the Governor, will conduct a top-to-bottom review of the Meritorious Good Time program. He will head a team that includes Jerome Stermer, Governor Quinn’s chief of staff and Theodore Chung, general counsel to Governor Quinn.
Judge Erickson will review every aspect of the Department of Correction’s Meritorious Good Time program and present a report to the Governor with deliberate speed. The review’s goals include, creating policies and procedures that make sure the program’s first concern is always public safety and maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system and the courts’ sentencing of offenders.
*** UPDATE *** From Hynes campaign spokesman Matt McGrath…
Today’s announcement of a “top-to-bottom” review apparently indicates that when Governor Quinn promised an immediate “top-to-bottom” review of the program six days ago, he was being less than truthful, which certainly fits the pattern of the way the Governor and his staff have handled this situation to date. On Monday, Dan Hynes called for a review to be completed within days, given the potential immediate safety risk to communities across Illinois, and encouraged the Governor not to appoint another commission but rather to get to the bottom of this issue directly and immediately —a call which has been echoed by editorial boards numerous times in subsequent days. Clearly, Pat Quinn has chosen to go his own way, as is his prerogative. But the people of Illinois have every right to wonder whose interests are really being served when the Governor draws this process out, and still refuses to answer important questions.