A Look At Possible Prison Sentences For Jason Van Dyke

By Daniel Tucker
Former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke arrives at a Dec. 14 post-conviction hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Special Prosecutor Joseph McMahon is now arguing Van Dyke should be sentenced to decades in prison. Defense attorneys are pushing for probation.
Former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke arrives at a Dec. 14 post-conviction hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Special Prosecutor Joseph McMahon is now arguing Van Dyke should be sentenced to decades in prison. Defense attorneys are pushing for probation. Pool photo by Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune
Former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke arrives at a Dec. 14 post-conviction hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Special Prosecutor Joseph McMahon is now arguing Van Dyke should be sentenced to decades in prison. Defense attorneys are pushing for probation.
Former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke arrives at a Dec. 14 post-conviction hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Special Prosecutor Joseph McMahon is now arguing Van Dyke should be sentenced to decades in prison. Defense attorneys are pushing for probation. Pool photo by Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune

A Look At Possible Prison Sentences For Jason Van Dyke

By Daniel Tucker
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Former Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke is scheduled to be sentenced Friday on charges of second degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

According to an AP report, the special prosecutor in the case wants Van Dyke to receive at least 96 years — six years for each battery count to be served consecutively.

But it’s unclear whether Judge Vincent Gaughan will agree with that interpretation or dole out a much less severe sentence for the officer who shot and killed Chicago teen Laquan McDonald.

Morning Shift walks through the permutations that Van Dyke’s prison sentence could take ahead of his hearing Friday.

GUEST: Sharone Mitchell, deputy director of the Illinois Justice Project

LEARN MORE: Prosecutors Wants At Least 96 Years For Jason Van Dyke (Sun-Times 1/14/19)

Experts Vary On Possible Prison Terms As Jason Van Dyke Awaits Friday Sentencing (Sun-Times 1/13/19)