Geoffrey Seymore has asked the Illinois Supreme Court whether good conduct credit can be used to cut down on jail time he received after violating pretrial release conditions.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Supreme Court will hear several cases this month regarding pretrial release. In Illinois v. Seymore, the top court could decide whether people can use good conduct credits to reduce pretrial jail sanctions.

Geoffrey Seymore has asked the Illinois Supreme Court whether good conduct credit can be used to cut down on jail time he received after violating pretrial release conditions.

Seymore is facing several drug charges related to meth, but a circuit court judge released him on electronic home monitoring last year. Court records show Seymore violated the conditions of his release the very next day by leaving his home and visiting three unauthorized locations, leading the state to ask for pretrial jail sanctions.

The circuit court judge imposed a 30 day jail sanction and noted Seymore would not be able to use any good conduct credits to shorten the amount of time behind bars before trial. Although, an appellate court judge argued the circuit court was wrong and Seymore should've been able to use those credits.

"Because the consequences of a pretrial jail sanction happen to overlap, somebody might serve a sanction in jail or somebody might serve a sentence in jail," said Assistant Attorney General Lauren Schneider. "It does not mean that those categories are completely synonymous. They are not simply interchangeable."

Seymore's attorney said good conduct credits should apply to his case as the Illinois County Jail Good Behavior Act does not exempt pretrial sanctions. He argued sanctions are considered the same as a sentence under common state law and should qualify for good time credits.

"The state is trying to create new law here. They're trying to add a seventh exception to the Behavior Act that does not exist," said Assistant Appellate Defender Attorney Sam Steinberg. "While the Pretrial Fairness Act mentions sanctions, it does not say a sanction is not a sentence. This functions like a sentence."

The Illinois Supreme Court took the case under advisement. Justices should release their opinion in the coming months. 

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