Problems Calculating Sentence Credits Prompt Hunger Strikes At Illinois Prison
Manuel Martinez/WBEZ
By Charlotte West
Jun 25, 2024, 12:00pm GMT
Two men incarcerated at Illinois’ Robinson Correctional Facility, Bernard Lopez and Lester May, recently initiated hunger strikes to protest delays in receiving sentence credits that could make them eligible for immediate release. Both men believe they have earned credits under HB 3026, a law granting sentence reductions for participation in education and work programs. However, issues with recordkeeping within the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) have made it difficult for many long-term incarcerated individuals to receive these credits. IDOC’s reliance on digital records dating back only to 2010, and confusion over facilities’ authority to review credits, have created obstacles for those seeking earlier release. After the hunger strikes, both Lopez and May secured reviews of their cases, highlighting widespread concerns about sentence calculation transparency.
“The delay in calculating my remaining good-time is bigger than Robinson,”
-Bernard “Benny” Lopez
