Ex-Gov. Ryan gets new prison assignment

Barring a miracle--which would be a US Supreme Court intervention--former Illinois Governor George H. Ryan will have to report to prison on Wednesday. But instead of having to serve his time in Duluth, Minnesota--Ryan, best known for his work in opposition to the death penalty, will be assigned to the minimum security prison in Oxford, Wisconsin--which is much closer to his home in Kankakee.

The central Wisconsin facility has been of "proud home" of many fallen Illinois politicians.

Ryan's attorney, another former Republican Illinois governor, James Thompson, had this to say:

Both Oxford and Duluth are fine institutions and its not a matter of choosing one over the other, but the travel time to Oxford is better for his family.

I'm not sure if the inmates of those prisons view these as "fine institutions."

Ryan was convicted last year of various corruption charges, most of which occurred during his eight year term as secretary of state.

Technorati tags: George Ryan illinois crime news corruption politics law crime prisons Duluth death penalty Wisconsin