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* Christy Gutowski at the Tribune…
After nearly four decades in prison for his role as the lookout in two gas station robberies, Basil Powell was given a second chance at life Thursday.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker commuted the former Chicago man’s natural life sentence earlier this week amid mounting pressure from prison reform advocates urging the release of elderly or ill inmates during the coronavirus pandemic.
Powell, a 68-year-old grandfather with diabetes and high blood pressure, has been in prison since 1986 under an old tough-on-crime sentencing law that labeled him a habitual criminal and forever slammed the prison door shut after his third class X felony conviction.
Seems reasonable considering the circumstances.
* Scroll down…
Powell is among a group of people serving life sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections to whom Pritzker has quietly granted release in recent days through his executive clemency power.
His office did not provide information on the commutations Thursday. But Pritzker has commuted the sentences of 17 Illinois prisoners since March 11, including seven convicted of murder.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:42 am
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Previous Post: Your turn, Gov. Pritzker
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and the victims of those crimes who have constitutional rights?
Comment by gfalkes Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:14 am
Given his age and health conditions, it is a likely bet that Mr. Powell will not return to his life as a lookout. I have always thought that holding lookouts and get-away drivers wholly accountable for the murder (often not a part of the original plan) that occurs during the commission of a crime was unduly draconian.
Comment by Ok Boomer Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:16 am
@gfawkes what constitutional right has been compromised by these commutations?
Comment by Ok Boomer Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:17 am
Illinois Constitution spells out victim’s rights including this
(5) The right to information about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment and release of the accused;
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:24 am
As DuPage points out, Article I Section 8.1, Crimes Victims’ Rights.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:29 am
=== But Pritzker has commuted the sentences of 17 Illinois prisoners since March 11, including seven convicted of murder. ===
Yikes
Comment by Birdseed Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:30 am
He should be letting those out that are close to their out date, have committed non violent crimes, and are a health risk…letting out lifers, even one on death row (commutes to life), is a slap in the face of the victims and their families, who thought justice was served…this is a shame.
Comment by Eh Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:36 am
Mr. Powell acted as a look out when a couple of gas stations were robbed and nobody was hurt, per the article. The Illinois Constitution (725 ILCS 120/3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1403) (a) “Crime victim” or “victim” means: (1) any natural person determined by the prosecutor or the court to have suffered direct physical or psychological harm as a result of a violent crime perpetrated or attempted against that person or direct physical or psychological harm. Does that apply to the gas station? As for the other cases, who is to say that the “crime victims” were not notified? My guess is the Gov’s office followed the proper protocol.
Comment by Ok Boomer Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:40 am
I don’t have any issue with a lookout having their sentence commuted when no one was seriously hurt during the crimes. I’d have to know the details on the other commutations in order to comment.
Comment by SSL Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 12:14 pm
I have to assume those saying “No one was physically hurt so this is fine with me” have never been the victim of this type of crime. The fear and mental anguish one experiences under this type of duress following a robbery can be immense.
If you want to say his advanced age opens this up for consideration, that’s one thing- but dismissing the victim (that being the clerk, OK Boomer) isn’t fair.
Comment by Father Ted Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 12:42 pm
==If you want to say his advanced age opens this up for consideration, that’s one thing- but dismissing the victim (that being the clerk, OK Boomer) isn’t fair.==
OK Boomer wasn’t dismissing the victim. He was saying that the criminal that should bear the responsibility for his murder is the person who actually committed it. add to that any one who participated in the intent for it to happen. Conspirators, people who hire someone to do it, etc. I understand his point that some guy standing outside or in a car most likely didn’t plan any murder. Before you say that everyone should get dinged, remember that deals are made and charges are dropped for minor participants all the time.
Comment by thoughts matter Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 12:56 pm
Welcome home, neighbor.
To those opposing this release, please actually read the article. This gentleman served 40 years for acting as an unarmed lookout in a robbery that netted $235 and no physical injuries (though I am sure emotional pain). Even the person who committed the robbery served just 6 years. Sure, there are some dangerous people behind bars, but sentencing all petty criminals to die in prison is barbaric.
Comment by Danny0 Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 1:45 pm
Swiping a candy bar from the corner store makes a person a petty criminal, being the lookout for 2 armed robberies by a guy who already had 2 Class X convictions doesnt. Not saying his sentence wasn’t disproportionate to the actual stick up man, but Powell is neither a petty criminal nor a gentleman. He should not be used as a poster boy for people who should be released.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 2:18 pm
I am a victim of what the article terms a “non-fatal” armed robbery. Paralyzed for life. No one has commuted my sentence.
Comment by G.W.F. Hegel Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 4:31 pm