Jesse Jackson Jr. Wants To Serve Prison Sentence Close To Washington, DC

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 13, 2013 2:00PM

Photo credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images News

Attorneys for former Jesse Jackson Jr. submitted the disgraced congressman's prison preferences ahead of his Wednesday sentencing and Jackson wishes to serve whatever sentence meted out to him close to the Beltway, near his wife and children.

Jackson wishes he serve out any prison term handed to him at a federal prison camp in Montgomery, Ala., or the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, N.C. The latter is where former Chicago Police Lt. Jon Burge is serving his 4 1/2-year sentence for obstruction of justice and Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff is behind bars.

Jackson's lawyers indicated their client would prefer Butner, as he has ties to the area, having attended college there, and that it would “aid his rehabilitation during any term of incarceration.” Jackson graduated from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro. Butner is located 500 miles from Washington; Birmingham is about 700 miles away.

The choice as to where Jackson will serve any prison sentence will ultimately fall on the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which will consider the recommendation of the sentencing judge. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson will hand her sentence to Jackson and his wife, former Ald. Sandi Jackson, Wednesday. Jackson pleaded guilty in February to misuse of campaign funds while his wife pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Prosecutors are seeking a four-year sentence for Jackson and 18 months for Sandi Jackson.