By C1 Staff
SPRINGFIELD — Prison officials in Illinois are planning on asking lawmakers for an extra $62 million to hire more than 500 additional employees.
The Quad-City Times reports that the request is part of the DOC’s response to a long-running federal lawsuit over the treatment of mentally ill inmates.
Officials outlined a plan last week to create four special treatment units at Dixon, Pontiac and Logan correctional centers, as well as at a revamped former youth prison on Joliet.
The changes would provide bed space for more than 1,200 seriously mentally ill inmates.
Funds for construction work are available, but the extra money is needed to hire the estimated 550 clinical and security employees needed to staff the units.
It’s unclear if the money will come through, as the state budget is already short on cash for the full fiscal year.
The state will also see an estimated $2 billion drop in revenue on Jan. 1 when the 2011 temporary income tax increase begins to roll back, potentially forcing major reductions in state services.