llinois Gov. Pat Quinn has approved 133 clemency petitions, part of what he calls a "massive backlog" of nearly 2,500 cases built up under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The petitions approved Wednesday are part of 265 cases from dockets in 2003 and 2004.
The names of those granted clemency were not immediately released by Quinn's office. Messages left for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board were not immediately returned.
State officials say each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check.
Quinn has approved 179 other clemency petitions since taking office in January. He has denied 182.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
