(Chicago, IL) — November 14, 2009. The first early release of non-violent Illinois prisoners has begun.

Governor Pat Quinn initiated the early prisoner release as a means to reduce expenses to the deeply indebted Illinois budget. However, more than 70 percent of Illinois prisoners test positive for drugs or alcohol at the time of their arrest and treatment services are in short supply.

“To keep the early-released prisoners from returning to jail, Gov. Quinn will need to find extra money for treatment,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA).

Anthony Cole, Executive Vice President of Haymarket Center and Chairman of the IADDA board of directors, says his agency is likely to be flooded with former prisoners seeking help, but Haymarket already has a waiting list, and without more money from the state, Haymarket will be hardpressed to provide treatment quickly to the former inmates.

Watch Cole’s speak to Chicago Fox-TV’s Jack Conaty here:

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