As a former Chicago ald. Ed Burke has been released from the federal prison, he still has more of his sentence left to serve.
Burke was released on Tuesday from the Thomson Federal Correctional Institution, just under 10 months after he had reported a two -year prison sentence in connection with a broad bribery test and conviction.
It is expected that he will spend time in a federal half house before being transferred to his house, where he will serve the rest of his sentence under electronic monitoring.
Erica Zunkkel, a clinical professor at the Law School of the University of Chicago, says that the release is not a ‘free pass’ for the cessed former legislator.
“It’s not like he gets a free pass and is out and is able to go out to eat and spend time with friends,” she said. “I would imagine that he will spend most of his time in his house with his family, (s) that is clearly much better than the prison”
Zunkel said that Burke probably received time credits under the first step law, and perhaps also received a clementie because of the Second Chance Act, which applies to prisoners who are over 60 years old.
“He would not receive any special or preferential treatment if he gets time credits under the first step law,” she said. “He has those who are earned under the law who can go to credit early release. The Second Chance Act specifically applies to older prisoners. So he is not treated differently than someone else who is, you know, who is 60 to 65 and higher.”
After serving less than 10 months from his prison sentence, former Chicago ald. Ed Burke is a free man, as NBC Investigates’ Chuck Goudie is investigating.
The Professor told NBC Chicago that a recent announcement from the Bureau of Prisons may have applied, which has encouraged previous home restrictions for federal prisoners based on age, type of crime and low opportunities of recurrence.
Although Burke did not speak with reporters or released a statement, his wife, former Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke, said that he was doing well and that he was looking forward to being at home in the near future.
She also revealed that her husband had one request before she reported to the halfway through the house: a chocolate milk shake.
Burke was sentenced to two years in prison after his conviction on accusation of racketeering, bribery and extortion. A jury discovered that the once powerful financial committee chairman used its position to request private legal work and other benefits from companies that had city contracts.
According to officials, 81-year-old Burke will spend a non-specific amount of time in a halfway house on the west side of Chicago.
According to officials, he is then taken to his house to serve the rest of his sentence, which runs until February 2026.
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