By Edith Brady-Lunny
The Pantagraph
SPRINGFIELD — A heavily overpopulated state prison system will struggle even more this year as the planned closure as a women’s prison forces more inmates into facilities designed to house far fewer people.
In February 2012, Gov. Pat Quinn targeted Tamms, the super-max prison in Southern Illinois, adult transition centers in Decatur and Carbondale, and a youth prison in Murphysboro for closure. But it was his plan to shutter the Dwight Correctional Center that drew criticism from prison reform advocates concerned that squeezing Dwight’s 1,000 inmates into Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln will add to stress-filled environment.
The closure also stands to diminish the positive results Dwight staff have in rehabilitating those sentenced to the facility, said reform advocates.
“Over the years, Dwight has trained its staff, hired larger numbers of female correction officers, and created a culture to address the unique needs of female inmates, most of whom come from backgrounds of serious trauma and physical, sexual and emotional abuse,” said the John Howard Association of Illinois in its January statement opposing the closure.
The Department of Corrections countered that existing programming will not only accompany inmates to Logan but plans call for opportunities in construction, parenting and nail technology. The reduction from two to three women’s prisons will save millions, said IDOC spokeswoman Stacey Solano.
No specific date has been set for the transfer. The state’s prisons have a current population of about 49,000 adults housed in a system designed for 34,000. The women from Dwight will be moved into quarters that now hold 1,600 men, who will be moved to other prisons.
The state recently notified the union representing prison workers about plans to increase bed space at facilities in Centralia, Vandalia, Danville, Shawnee, Graham and Illinois River. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees objected to plans to convert gymnasiums into dormitory units for minimum security inmates.
“Inmates in these facilities will continue to have access to dayrooms and yards for recreation. The department anticipates the need for these temporary housing units to decrease in the coming months,” said Solano.
Implementation of a revised early release program is expected to help reduce prisoner numbers.
The employee union also cited recent incidents of violence against staff in their arguments against the closures.
Copyright 2013 The Pantagraph