By Emily Finnegan and Benjy Jeffords
WSIL 3
WSIL — A new group in Southern Illinois is speaking out against prison overcrowding.
The closure of state facilities has hit our region hard in the last year. First, the Tamms Supermax prison was shut down, and now, there’s a plan to shutter the women’s prison in Dwight; the shuffling of prisoners means some are being housed in gymnasiums, including at the Shawnee Correctional Center in Vienna.
Union leaders and guards have voiced concerns about overcrowding and escalating violence since Gov. Quinn announced plans to close Tamms, but now, some of their family members are stepping forward, using prayer to raise awareness.
“We’re concerned for their safety the entire time, and I mean, it’s very traumatic,” said Marsha Griffin. Five of Griffin’s family members work for the Illinois Department of Corrections, giving her a unique perspective on what happens behind prison walls.
“We truly believe as families that it’s not a matter of if a death occurs, it’s a matter of when,” she said.
Full story: My Brother’s Keeper Prays for Change in Prisons