South Central Reporter

There are three inmates sentenced in Macoupin County set to be released from jail during the third quarter of 2025, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The inmate being released that served the longest time was Michael J. Hedden for possession of meth between 15-100 grams. Michael J. Hedden spent more than two years incarcerated.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois spends about $45,828 a year per incarcerated person. In a 2023 study by the Prison Policy Initiative, the state's incarceration rate was at 433 per 100,000, higher than every industrialized country, except the United States. When compared with its surrounding states, Illinois was the lowest. Kentucky and Missouri have rates over 700 per 100,000.

Another study by the Prison Policy Initiative highlighted that the number of unconvicted individuals was more than two times higher than that of convicted individuals, possibly one of the leading causes of jail growth in the state.

Most prison inmates are released on some condition of supervised monitoring upon reentering civilian life. This monitoring can last from 1 year to the rest of someone’s life.

Name	Offense	Supervised Release Date	Holding Facility
Sherry L. Main	meth delivery between 5-15 grams	07/01/2025	Decatur Correctional Center
Michael J. Hedden	possession of meth between 15-100 grams	07/30/2025	Sheridan Correctional Center
Rex J. White	aggravated fleeing police	08/03/2025	Graham Correctional Center