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Illinois Plans Early Release of Prison Inmates
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- About 1,000 non-violent offenders will be released early from Illinois prisons under a program Governor Pat Quinn says will ease the strain of overcrowding.

Quinn said Friday he is giving the Corrections Department $4 million to enact reforms in a budget crisis. It includes $2 million for the early release. Inmates released would be assigned a parole agent and have to be electronically monitored.

Another $2 million will go toward a program to encourage counties to use community rehabilitation programs for low-level criminals instead of sending them to prison.

Corrections department officials did not immediately say when the inmates would be released or how much the department would save. A spokeswoman says they would come from minimum security prisons and "transition" centers that prepare released inmates for life on the street.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
09 18 09 by Newsroom
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