Gov. Edgar last month signed legislation authorizingconstruction of a 500-bed maximum-security prison for the state'smost violent criminals. But with more than 33,000 prisoners infacilities designed to hold 22,000, overcrowding won't be solved.
That's why there is cautious interest in efforts to grant earlyrelease to nonviolent or terminally ill inmates over age 55.
Numerous studies have shown that older prisoners are far lessdangerous to release. Last year, Illinois had 619 older inmates, andcould have more than 900 by 1996. Their rate of recidivism - thelikelihood they will return to prison for committing another crime -is only 17 percent, compared with 46 percent for all inmates. Earlyrelease and electronic monitoring of older inmates was one of therecommendations made in March by the Illinois Task Force on Crime andCorrections.
The Legislature recently approved electronic detention fornonviolent older inmates who have served more than 25 percent oftheir time and have less than a year remaining on their sentences.
Releasing older, non-violent inmates who have served most oftheir time would free up scarce prison cells for younger, violentoffenders. Statistics show the latter group pose a greater risk topublic safety.
It's worth a try.
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