CREST HILL, IL…. On Friday, a federal judge ordered Illinois to relocate inmates housed in Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum-security men’s prison, by September 30 amid an ongoing legal battle over the facility’s conditions. In the wake of the decision, legislators, advocacy groups, and employees have expressed deep concerns on the effect this order will have on prison workers, their families, and their communities. State Representative Patrick Sheehan (R-Lockport), member of the Public Safety Appropriations Committee, voiced his alarm at the recent decision, citing potential hardships for Stateville workers and a lack of transparency from state officials.
“State officials are making a bad problem worse by creating uncertainty for Stateville workers’ families and their communities. We must come together and create plans that protect workers and inmates, and that do not leave the communities that have served this state for years in disarray,” Rep Sheehan said. “Hardworking families should not have to pay the price for years of agency mismanagement.”
During the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) process in June, state officials offered that Stateville Correctional Center would end operations in September and transfer most inmates to other facilities by that time. However, during the process, it became abundantly clear workers’ questions would go unanswered, and state officials were unable to provide important data such as specific dates for the move or staffing figures for the new facility.
Many opponents of the plan have explained that transferring the prison population to a new location could move inmates and employees farther from their families, lengthen commute times, and put Stateville workers out of their jobs completely. Some Stateville workers, concerned for their safety, have questioned if inmates will be housed at adequate security levels once relocated. To mitigate these potential issues, legislators and advocacy groups such as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have suggested a more measured approach, allowing workers and inmates to stay near their families and Stateville employees to keep their jobs.
Rep. Sheehan reiterated the consequences the decision will bring for Stateville employees who are now uncertain of their future. “I am very disappointed in the poor planning around the closure of Stateville Correctional Center and fear the negative impacts it will have on so many workers, inmates, and families,” Sheehan said. “These stakeholders, as well as state taxpayers, deserve transparency and respectful discussion of the impact of this decision. I stand ready to participate in these discussions moving forward.”
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