Federal prison is not a deterrent to Illinois politicians. Might state incarceration work better?

It’s pretty obvious that the prospect of incarceration in Federal prisons isn’t enough to stop Illinois politicians from living up to the state’s reputation for being one of the most corrupt in the country.

Think of the nickname for the minimum security prison near the Wisconsin Dells:

Club Fed

True, former Governor Dan Walker was treated poorly by the warden at his Minnesota prison. He writes in his well-written book about the “Governor stick” that the Warden gave him. Walker’s job was to use the stick with a nail in its bottom to pick cigarette butts from the prison grounds.  That, plus cleaning bathrooms.

But, Walker was not convicted of official misconduct. He lost favor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office during the the savings and loan debacle. (He argues that he received the longest term of anyone convicted in the nationwide scandal, while having been involved in one of the smallest losses.)

Would George Ryan have been deterred from the illegalities for which he was convicted if he had known he might end up in a state prison?

How about Ron Blagojevich?

I am sure there are others, but the only politician I can recall spending time in a state pen is former Congressman Mel Reynolds.

It is blatantly obvious that most local State’s Attorney’s don’t want to take on their fellow politicians.  An exception is the current Cook County State’s Attorney, Anita Alvarez.

So, if State’s Attorney’s won’t prosecute their buddies, how about the U.S. Attorney asking that miscreants like Blagojevich be locked behind state prison doors?

I would suggest that a legislator would not have to have served on the Prison Reform Committee (which I did and which no longer exists) to know how bad prisoners can be treated.  Since lots of legislators now seek higher paying Chicago alderman and Cook County Board seats, the message would spread where it needs to.

And, such punishment would have a certain symmetry for Blagojevich:

• elected by his peers
• judged by his peers
• punished with his peers

Just a modest proposal and not as bad as suggesting impoverished Irish in 1729 sell their children for food to rich ladies and gentlemen.

The Feds have put prisoners in the Illinois Department of Corrections and vice versa.

A big story starting on the front page of Sunday’s Chicago Tribune asks the question,

Why do
people
falsely
confess?

Experts: It happens
more than you think

It’s starts with Kevin Fox, the father of daughter Riley, found dead in a Will County creek.

He explains, “He knew he hadn’t sexually assaulted his 3-year old daughter, but police had rejected his requests for a lawyer and told him they would arrange for inmates to rape him in jail.”

You may think that threat nonsense.

I don’t.

The relationship between law enforcement offices in Will County and those who run the state prison are close.

Close enough that one former Will County State’s Attorney told me he could arrange for a prisoner to be put in a cell with someone who would rape him.

Justice, American-style, I guess.

It seems that Michigan has figure it out.

I’m not sure is was deliberate, but prosecuting Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in state court will work to deter future corruption in local government.

Why?

The Detroit mayor will have to serve his time in state prison.

If Michigan’s state facilities are as dismal as those in Illinois, that could a real crimp in Michigan’s political crime.

In Illinois, of course, political crooks know the Cook County State’s Attorney will not be the one prosecuting them.

So, no hard time, even if convicted.

The worst time was served by George Ryan’s top assistant, Scott Fawell, in the Dakotas. And the worst part of that was the round-about trip back to Chicago.

Most can expect to go to Oxford, up near the Wisconsin Dells.

That cannot be as much of a deterrent than any of the prisons in the Department of Corrections.

= = = = =
The article you see is from Elgin’s Courier News of last Friday.

The photo of Denny’s is from the Wisconsin Dells. Click to enlarge either image.

It seems that Michigan has figure it out.

I’m not sure is was deliberate, but prosecuting Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in state court will work to deter future corruption in local government.

Why?

The Detroit mayor will have to serve his time in state prison.

If Michigan’s state facilities are as dismal as those in Illinois, that could a real crimp in Michigan’s political crime.

In Illinois, of course, political crooks know the Cook County State’s Attorney will not be the one prosecuting them.

So, no hard time, even if convicted.

The worst time was served by George Ryan’s top assistant, Scott Fawell, in the Dakotas. And the worst part of that was the round-about trip back to Chicago.

Most can expect to go to Oxford, up near the Wisconsin Dells.

That cannot be as much of a deterrent than any of the prisons in the Department of Corrections.

= = = = =
The article you see is from Elgin’s Courier News of last Friday.

The photo of Denny’s is from the Wisconsin Dells. Click to enlarge either image.