How a 7-Year Prison Sentence Turns Into Over 100

Anthony Gay was sentenced to seven years in prison on a parole violation but ended up with 97 years added to his sentence. Gay lives with serious mental illness, and after time in solitary confinement, he began to act out. He was repeatedly charged with battery – often for throwing liquids, like urine, at staff. 

Gay acknowledges he did some of those things but says the prison put him in circumstances that made his mental illness worse – then punished him for the way he acted. With help from Chicago-based lawyers, Gay appealed to the local state’s attorney. What happens when a self-described “law and order” prosecutor has to decide between prison-town politics and doing what he believes the law requires?

Today’s show was a partnership with the podcast Motive from WBEZ Chicago. 

• Support Reveal’s journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow

• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/newsletter

• Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram