STATE OF ILLINOIS
BRUCE RAUNER, GOVERNOR
PRISONER REVIEW BOARD
EN BANC MINUTE SHEET OPEN SESSION— APRIL 28, 2016
Inmate Name: DONALD GRANT IDOC Number & Institution: L02079
The Illinois Prisoner Review Board met in open en banc session at 319 E. Madison Street, Springfield, IL on April 28, 2016, at the 8:00 a.m. session to discuss and deliberate parole eligibility for Donald Grant, IDOC # L02079
Members present were: Chairman C. Findley, E. Bowers, E. Crigler, S. Diaz, G. Duncan, D.W. Dunn, P. Fisher, V. Harris, D. Jones, W. Norton, A.M. Perkins, and D. Shelton.
Other(s) present: Gabriela Chavez Barrientos, Recording Secretary
Summary of discussion for parole consideration: Member Jones presented a summary of the parole interview and a review of all file materials.
Mr. Jones interviewed inmate Donald Grant at the Dixon Correctional Center on March 9, 2016.
The facts of the case are as follows. On May 24, 1976 at approximately 8:00 pm, Robert Jackson, a retired Peoria County Sheriff’s Deputy, was murdered by the inmate while Jackson worked as a part- time security guard at a grocery store in Peoria. Per his duties, Jackson had removed the inmate from the store during a prior incident. Grant returned to the store the night of May 24th, intending to settle the score. He walked into the store with a loaded .22 caliber handgun, walked behind Jackson and shot him in the head. After Jackson fell, mortally wounded, the inmate stole his .38 caliber revolver and fled.
Prior to killing Mr. Jackson, the inmate had an argument with him. The argument purportedly ensued after the inmate had been put out of the store by Mr. Jackson. The inmate left the store, retrieved a gun, returned to the store, and approached the victim from behind to seek his revenge.
From 1976 until 1981, Jackson’s murder remained unsolved. Inmate had been sentenced to 4 years and was paroled in July 1980 for an unrelated offense. In 1981 he bragged to friends and family about killing Jackson.
He was sentenced to 60-180 years for Murder and 20-60 years for Armed Robbery.
Mr. Jones conducted a review of all the relevant facts and circumstances. The Board determined that to grant parole at this time would deprecate the seriousness of the offense and promote disrespect for the law. Therefore, Mr. Jones moved to deny parole to Inmate Grant.
Motion to deny parole (DJ-GD). Motion prevails 11-1. Members voting in favor of the motion were Mr. Bowers, Mr. Diaz, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Fisher, Mrs. Harris, Mr. Jones, Mr. Norton, Mrs. Perkins, Mr. Shelton, and Chairman Findley.
“The Board makes a specific finding that the release of victim protest letters could subject a person to actual risk of physical harm.”