Comments on: Vehicular endangerment the right charge http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/ News and Comment about Peoria, Illinois Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:59:11 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: wilso http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-9489 wilso Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:25:28 +0000 http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/#comment-9489 Baloney! This dirt bag threw a brick at a car with the intent of doing damage...this is a crime. During that crime he killed someone...this is murder. The person he killed had hopes and dreams, a family, friends and was a law abiding productive member of society. On the other hand this moron has led a life of crime and obviously doesn't have the moral fiber to consider the repercussions of his actions. And just think...in ten years he gets introduced back into society. What a crock! Baloney!
This dirt bag threw a brick at a car with the intent of doing damage…this is a crime. During that crime he killed someone…this is murder. The person he killed had hopes and dreams, a family, friends and was a law abiding productive member of society. On the other hand this moron has led a life of crime and obviously doesn’t have the moral fiber to consider the repercussions of his actions. And just think…in ten years he gets introduced back into society. What a crock!

]]> By: Kevin Lowe http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-9461 Kevin Lowe Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:36:38 +0000 http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/#comment-9461 Yeah, day-for-day and the meritorious credit often mean the inmate serves less than half his sentence. And with prison over-crowding, other credits have become popular at DOC. You can knock time off for treatment, counseling, education, etc. But, judges are aware of these credits, so presumably they're already factored into the sentencing decision (i.e., if the judge wants the defendant to spend 7 years in prison, he better give him a 15-year day-for-day sentence -- which would only be available in class 1 or X felonies and other enhanced class 2 sentences). As for meritorious service? Well, it seems to me that just about anything will qualify, so long as the inmate behaves himself. Really. Over-crowding is no joke. The DOC looks for ways to shave time off their sentences. I wrote briefly about sentencing in my post http://theususpects.blogspot.com/2007/08/of-pimps-and-prostitutes.html It's confusing, because most offenses are 50%, but some are 75%, 85% or 100%. It might be an interesting topic for a more in-depth post on my blog. I think there's a lot of confusion out there about the sentencing statutes. Yeah, day-for-day and the meritorious credit often mean the inmate serves less than half his sentence. And with prison over-crowding, other credits have become popular at DOC. You can knock time off for treatment, counseling, education, etc. But, judges are aware of these credits, so presumably they’re already factored into the sentencing decision (i.e., if the judge wants the defendant to spend 7 years in prison, he better give him a 15-year day-for-day sentence — which would only be available in class 1 or X felonies and other enhanced class 2 sentences).

As for meritorious service? Well, it seems to me that just about anything will qualify, so long as the inmate behaves himself. Really. Over-crowding is no joke. The DOC looks for ways to shave time off their sentences.

I wrote briefly about sentencing in my post http://theususpects.blogspot.c.....tutes.html

It’s confusing, because most offenses are 50%, but some are 75%, 85% or 100%. It might be an interesting topic for a more in-depth post on my blog. I think there’s a lot of confusion out there about the sentencing statutes.

]]> By: C. J. Summers http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-9457 C. J. Summers Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:42:05 +0000 http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/#comment-9457 Thanks, Kevin. That's quite an incentive! I guess I don't see a problem with this sort of incentive per se, but over half the sentence being knocked off seems a bit excessive, doesn't it? Also, what would be an example of "meritorious service"? Thanks, Kevin. That’s quite an incentive! I guess I don’t see a problem with this sort of incentive per se, but over half the sentence being knocked off seems a bit excessive, doesn’t it? Also, what would be an example of “meritorious service”?

]]> By: Kevin Lowe http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-9456 Kevin Lowe Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:31:55 +0000 http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/#comment-9456 I suspect the reason for not requiring the full sentence be served is to provide an incentive for "good" behavior in the DOC. Good time credit applies to most, but not all, offenses. (730 ILCS 5/3?6?3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003?6?3) Sec. 3?6?3. Rules and Regulations for Early Release. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections shall prescribe rules and regulations for the early release on account of good conduct of persons committed to the Department which shall be subject to review by the Prisoner Review Board. . . . Most inmates also qualify an additional six months off for meritorious service. Again, probably as an incentive: (3) The rules and regulations shall also provide that the Director may award up to 180 days additional good conduct credit for meritorious service in specific instances as the Director deems proper; . . . I suspect the reason for not requiring the full sentence be served is to provide an incentive for “good” behavior in the DOC.

Good time credit applies to most, but not all, offenses.

(730 ILCS 5/3?6?3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003?6?3)
Sec. 3?6?3. Rules and Regulations for Early Release.
(a) (1) The Department of Corrections shall prescribe rules and regulations for the early release on account of good conduct of persons committed to the Department which shall be subject to review by the Prisoner Review Board.
. . .

Most inmates also qualify an additional six months off for meritorious service. Again, probably as an incentive:

(3) The rules and regulations shall also provide that the Director may award up to 180 days additional good conduct credit for meritorious service in specific instances as the Director deems proper; . . .

]]> By: The Mouse http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/comment-page-1/#comment-9453 The Mouse Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:12:17 +0000 http://peoriachronicle.com/2007/10/16/vehicular-endangerment-the-right-charge/#comment-9453 It is a shame we cannot come up with alternatives to prison. When this guy gets out, whenever it is, he will still be young, and will have probably done little more than graduate from an academy of crime. It is a shame we cannot come up with alternatives to prison. When this guy gets out, whenever it is, he will still be young, and will have probably done little more than graduate from an academy of crime.

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