Jesse Jackson Jr. Released from Prison to Halfway House by Hazel Trice Edney

Posted: March 24, 2015

Updated: March 29, 2015

Jesse Jackson Jr. Released from Prison to Halfway House

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(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Former Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.(D-Ill.), who has been serving a 30-month prison sentence, was released to a halfway house in the Washington,DC area March 26.

Jackson reported to federal prison Oct. 29, 2013, after pleading guilty to misusing $750,000 of campaign funds. He had served 17 years in Congress when he resigned in 2012. The once rising star in the Democratic Party first entered a correctional facility in Butner, N.C., but has been in a Montgomery, Ala. prison since the spring of last year.

His wife, Sandi, a former Chicago City Council member, was sentenced to one year for filing false tax returns that failed to report the campaign money as income. The couple has two children. The judge ordered Mrs. Jackson to report to prison 30 days after her husband is released to reduce the impact on the children.

The Chicago Tribune last year reported an expected release date of Dec. 31, 2015 for Jackson. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBP) this week listed his release date as Sept. 20, 2015. Therefore his transition to a halfway facility may be pending his complete release from the prison system.

Former Rep. Jackson served in Congress from1995 until he resigned after re-election in November 2012, citing health reasons later identified as a mood disorder. Jackson was also sentenced to three years supervised release following his prison sentence and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service. Mrs. Jackson was given 12 months supervised release and 200 hours of community service.