CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says former Gov. George Ryan has served his sentence and it's time to move forward.

Quinn spoke Wednesday at an unrelated news conference, the same day Ryan left an Indiana prison. Ryan was released after serving more than five years for corruption.

Gov. Quinn says Ryan's corruption case marked a very sad chapter in Illinois history.
 

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CHICAGO (AP) - Prison officials say George Ryan didn't get any special consideration when he was allowed to return home and skip staying at a halfway house after his release from prison.

The former Illinois governor left an Indiana prison Wednesday after serving more than five years for corruption. He stopped briefly at a Chicago halfway house. But in a surprise to many, he was allowed to travel on to his Kankakee home.

Bureau of Prisons' spokesman Chris Burke says Ryan's status wasn't factored in. He says rules prevent him from speaking about Ryan's specific case. But he says age and health are typically among the factors.

Ryan will be on home confinement until his term is officially completed July 4. He can only leave the house on rare occasions with prior permission.

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CHICAGO (AP) - George Ryan is back at his family home in north-central Illinois where he'll be under home confinement.

The former Illinois governor was released from an Indiana prison Wednesday after serving more than five years for corruption.

But in a move that took many by surprise, he was allowed to travel on to his Kankakee home shortly after arriving at a halfway house in Chicago.

His attorney, Jim Thompson, says Ryan will still be subject to strict rules at home. He can't leave his house and he can't speak to the media.

Thompson says officials decided Thompson didn't require the services halfway houses provide. Those services include making sure ex-cons can use a checkbook.

Thompson says Ryan was given retirement status and won't be required to find a job.
 

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By MICHAEL TARM
CHICAGO (AP) - A lawyer says former Illinois Gov. George Ryan has been released from a halfway house and is back at home in Kankakee.

Ryan was released from a federal prison in Terra Haute, Ind., early Wednesday and traveled to the halfway house in Chicago. He didn't speak to the media as he walked into the halfway house.

Attorney Jim Thompson says Ryan was released from the halfway house a short time later. Thompson, also a former Illinois governor, traveled with Ryan to his home in Kankakee, where he will remain in home confinement.

Speaking from Ryan's living room, Thompson said Ryan was beaming and surrounded by his smiling grandchildren.

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CHICAGO (AP) - Former Gov. Jim Thompson says George Ryan is in "decent spirits" after being released from the federal prison where he served more than five years on corruption charges.

Thompson accompanied the former Illinois governor on his trip from the lock-up in Terre Haute, Ind., to Chicago, where Ryan reported to a halfway house early Wednesday. Ryan wore a suit and tie as he walked into the facility. He was unable to speak to the media because he's still in custody.

Thompson says Ryan was mostly quiet on the drive to Chicago, although he talked about how good it was to be out.

Thompson says the Ryan will have to adjust to being outside prison. He says Ryan doesn't yet have a job lined up as required by his release.percent, the slowest rate in nearly two years.

Copyright © 2013 Associated Press
Flickr: former Illinois Governor George Ryan (spsarge)

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CHICAGO (AP) - Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan has been released from prison after serving more than five years for corruption.

The 78-year-old Republican arrived at a halfway house in Chicago early Wednesday after his release the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind.

Ryan qualified for early release five months before his term officially ended.

As governor, Ryan drew national attention by deeming the state's capital punishment laws flawed and emptying death row in 2003. That reignited a nationwide debate and eventually led Illinois to abolish its death penalty in 2011.

Jurors convicted Ryan in 2006 of steering state business to insiders in return for vacations and gifts.

Ryan's release means Rod Blagojevich is now the lone former Illinois governor behind bars. The Democrat is serving a 14-year sentence for corruption.

Copyright © 2013 Associated Press
Flickr: former Illinois Governor George Ryan (spsarge)