Lawmakers in Illinois criticize lack of plan for potential prison closures

SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – Illinois state lawmakers shared their concerns Friday about a plan to close and rebuild two state prisons. They spoke during a Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) meeting in Springfield on the Illinois Department of Corrections’ (IDOC) plan to close and rebuild Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill and Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, the state’s main women’s prison for medium and maximum security inmates.

The department plans to close Stateville and rebuild both facilities on the prison’s Will County campus. Stateville inmates and employees would be transferred during construction. Logan would operate until the new facility opens.

Lawmakers sitting on COGFA agree Stateville needs to be rebuilt and Logan needs work, but they don’t see a plan to get it done.

“This is really a concept and not a plan, in my estimation, because a plan has details. And what we’ve really been presented with really is the concept of replacing and building new facilities but nothing has been worked out in terms of what, when and where,” said state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria.

“I think that we have a thought bubble more so than the written down plan, right. This is far from shovel ready. If the department thinks they’re going to start building in a year, and that’s what they said, I don’t think they even have plans in a year,” said state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville.

State Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, had the harshest criticism for IDOC and the Pritzker administration’s plan.

“Is this simply another process being done for political expediency? It sure appears that way,” he said. “I cannot support any of these closures with so many unanswered questions remaining.”

When asked about the potential closures Friday afternoon, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said he welcomes the feedback. He reiterated the need to improve or rebuild both Logan and Stateville while adding there is no final plan.

“It’s clear that much more ultimately will need to be done to upgrade or change the facilities we already have. This is just the beginning, but it’s an important beginning,” he said.

Lawmakers’ comments came after a hearing on May 10 as well as hearings Tuesday in Joliet, near Stateville, and in Lincoln Thursday, near Logan.

They heard from IDOC leadership and leaders from AFSCME Council 31, the union representing most IDOC employees. The union opposes the plan as it calls for Stateville employees to be relocated to a facility within a 65-mile radius during construction. Once Logan closes, those employees would be relocated to a facility within 90 miles.

IDOC released a statement following Friday’s hearing:

“The Department’s goal in announcing its intent to rebuild Stateville and Logan Correctional Centers was to present a starting point and create an open process in which feedback from all impacted stakeholders is considered – not to present a complete plan without discussing it with all involved. The Department recognizes the importance of these discussions to help ensure the success of this initiative, which is why we’ve met with staff and individuals in custody at the impacted facilities, in addition to the unions, legislators, advocacy organizations, and educational partners. The Department is committed to transparency and will continue conversations to gather feedback from impacted stakeholders and collectively incorporate it into a better comprehensive plan moving forward. The Department will also review and consider the COFA recommendations.”

AFSCME Council 31 released a statement after Friday’s hearing:

“Members of the commission have spent two months studying this proposal, asking questions and getting input.

“Today, all lawmakers present expressed grave concern about the dearth of details provided and the lack of any real plan. The absence of other commission members also reflects the absence of support for the proposal. No member of the commission spoke in favor.

“Today’s outcome, and the large crowds and countless concerns raised at this week’s COGFA hearings in Joliet and Lincoln, all affirm the same thing: The Department of Corrections should rescind its closure threats, slow down, and work with our union and other concerned parties to develop a better rebuilding plan. For the state prison system, its employees, individuals in custody and their families, that’s the right thing to do.”

The commission was originally set to issue an official recommendation Friday, ahead of Saturday’s deadline, but did not have enough members present for a necessary quorum. The opinion is only advisory since IDOC does not need COGFA’s permission to move forward with the project.

“I think we were able to get our comments out there on the record. That hopefully gives them some direction at least to what we are observing and what we’re seeing,” Koehler said after the hearing.

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