Gov. Quinn: Illinois prison officials lacked authority to pick up parolee suspected in crime

Ill. Gov.: No authority to pick up errant parolee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says his administration lacked the authority to pick up a paroled burglar when the ex-con was suspected of a new crime last winter.

Quinn said Wednesday that Corrections Department parole officials could not lock up Darrell Bracey because police had not sought a warrant for Bracey’s arrest in connection with a November aggravated battery.

Bracey was part of the “MGT Push” secret early release Quinn halted last winter.

The Associated Press reported the Corrections Department passed up a chance to apprehend Bracey after Naperville police said he was a battery suspect. Bracey was later suspected in two other crimes and is now back in prison.

Bracey also committed two parole violations of the type that have sent hundreds of other parolees back to lockup.