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The PRB reviews parole requests and what to do with people who
violate conditions of release.
Earlier this year, state senators rejected several of Gov. J.B.
Pritzker’s appointees to the board, which didn’t have enough
members to make decisions.
PRB General Counsel Kahalah Clay said Tuesday at a Legislative
Audit Commission hearing that’s changed.
“Thankfully we have had several board members added over the
last couple of months and weeks and we have been back up to a
quorum for some time,” Clay said.
Six members have been added by the governor since as early as
May this year. Members must be confirmed by the Senate within 60
session days. There are still three vacancies on the 15-member
board.
Pritzker has been criticized for appointing PRB members and then
withdrawing them before the deadline for Senate approval only to
then reappoint them.
State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, told PRB Chair Edith
Crigler that it's like a game of “cat and mouse.”
“The response is that some of this is due to a comprehensive
vetting process that is done for appointees, what does that
vetting process entail,” Barickman asked.
“Senator, I have no idea,” Crigler said. “We don’t do the
vetting. The governor’s office does the vetting.”
Barickman requested future meetings with the governor’s office
and the PRB to determine the vetting process.
Since COVID, there has been a spike in the number of clemency
hearings. Nichole Damhoff, PRB chief administrative officer,
said the number won't be as high as the 4,000 estimated for this
year, but will still be elevated.
“We’re definitely on track for about 1,500 to 2,000 just in
2022,” she said.
The most recent audit of the PRB found a variety of issues with
the agency, including lax oversight over state property and
contractual services.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
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