Dupage Policy Journal

Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) could have voted yes on a bill that would allow the release of terminally ill inmates if it included standards from the Social Security Administration, particularly on how “medically incapacitated” was defined.

House Bill 3665, referred to as The Joe Coleman Medical Release Act, would amend the Unified Code of Corrections with a provision that an incarcerated person can be qualified as "medically incapacitated" if there is a medical condition preventing the inmate from completing more than one activity of daily living.

“While I appreciate the activities of daily living is a better standard than just one, activities for daily living still include things like that under the medical criteria ... dental hygiene, hair, and nail care, the ability to walk independently.” Mazzochi contested. “So there certainly are areas that may not necessarily qualify as true compassionate release and I would prefer that you were actually using the standards that either the Social Security Administration uses… then we could be supportive but I can't be supportive as it's currently drafted.”

HB 3665 was passed by a 75-38 vote and recently reached the Senate.

Joe Coleman was a veteran with four Purple Heart medals, but was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of a robbery in 1981, the Chicago Appleseed reported.

He died of terminal cancer behind bars at the age of 81, though his family was willing to take care of him.