Illinois Prison Inmates v Illinois Department of Corrections
Judge OKs Lawsuit Filed by Parolees
A federal judge certified a class-action lawsuit filed by prison parolees who claim Illinois Department of Corrections officials violate their rights by not quickly holding parole-revocation hearings when they are charged with new crimes.
District Judge Robert Gettleman in Chicago certified the suit against department officials
on May 8, 2006.
While the lawsuit names seven parolees as plaintiffs, the lawyers for the parolees claim it may extend to about 1,000 parolees.
State prison officials denied violating the rights of the parolees, saying they receive a probable-cause hearing on new charges. Gettleman granted a preliminary injunction to halt the practice. Lawyers have until May 26, 2006 to propose an end to the practice.
The lawsuit is open to parolees in the Ilinois Department of Corrections who believe they were not granted a hearing in a timely fashion.
