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New Ill. law demands publication of prison inmates released early

Last winter, more than 1,700 inmates — hundreds of them violent — were secretly released early from prison

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — More information about Illinois inmates released from prison early must now be posted on the Corrections Department’s website.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Monday creating a “Community Notification of Inmate Early Release” hyperlink on the prison site so that taxpayers can more readily know who’s getting out early.

The legislation was prompted by The Associated Press report last winter that more than 1,700 inmates — hundreds of them violent — had been secretly released early from prison after spending just days or weeks behind bars.

The identifying information must include the inmate’s name, birth date, physical characteristics, address, offense and more. It must be posted within three days of a prisoner’s release.