The Quinn Administration’s "MGT Push" program which released hundred of inmates, including violent offenders, almost immediately upon their arrival within the state corrections system, was a "failure," according to the retired Judge charged with spearheading an investigation into the program.

On Friday, August 13, just two days after the Governor’s office refused to participate in a legislative inquiry into the program, the administration released its long-awaited internal investigation.

Former Judge David Erickson’s report, first commissioned in December, declared the Meritorious Good Time (MGT) Push program a failure and said the Quinn administration used the program as a means of reducing prison populations, rather than rewarding inmates for good behavior.

"...inmates had to do little or nothing to demonstrate ’meritorious’ conduct deserving MGT Credit awards and then, given the perceived irrevocability of MGT Credit, could do nothing to jeopardize their awards.

"Under MGT Push and under the old MGT program, inmates were labeled as ’meritorious’ simply by virtue of being delivered into DOC custody," the report said.

The release followed the first meeting of a special Illinois Joint Investigatory Panel on Early Release, formed by Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego).

The report prompted Radogno and Cross to again renew their request for the administration to testify before the panel.