Inmates hit the streets early

Let the countdown begin.

The first of those state prison inmates slated for early release got out last week. Eventually, there will be 1,000 of them let out early, another money-saving idea advanced by Gov. Pat Quinn.

The administration is assuring everyone that these inmates are nonviolent and should not pose a risk to the public. Quinn himself said he hopes all of the inmates have learned their lessons behind bars. In other words, he hopes they won’t do anything stupid on the outside that will get them thrown back into prison.

We all hope that, but it’s hard not to be skeptical. Low-risk or not, you’re still dealing with a large group of people who have been on the wrong side of the law. It seems plausible that at least one of them will do something wrong again and get arrested.

When that happens, brace yourselves. The headlines will scream about an early-released inmate committing a new crime, sort of implying that inmates who serve their full sentences never commit new crimes. Politicians will make indignant demands for justice, while ignoring the fact they’ve been unable to agree on a solution to the state’s budget problems that Quinn says is forcing the early releases in the first place.

It’s probably only a matter of time.

WHAT IS IT with hair this election season?

Former state Republican chairman Andrew McKenna, who is running for governor, did that TV ad pasting Rod Blagojevich-style helmet hair on George Ryan, Dan Walker, Otto Kerner and the Capitol, apparently to make the point that a big block of hair on the head and block-headed government go hand in hand.

Then last week, Quinn comes out with a video featuring his visit to his barber Herb in Hinsdale. Herb has his shop in a regular storefront, which is good, since Quinn’s own ad complains about Comptroller Dan Hynes getting his hair cut at a spa.

The video shows Herb talking nice about Quinn and how he’s cut Quinn’s hair for many years. Herb notes that if lots of hair equals political corruption, then Quinn must be a pretty honest politician. Herb does not say whether Quinn is a generous tipper or whether he tips at all.