Our sorry state
Tuesday, Nov 29, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yet another mess created by Pat Quinn that has yet to be cleaned up by the current administration…
The situation for women housed at the Logan Correctional Center in downstate Lincoln has become “untenable,” according to a new study funded by the Department of Justice that found overcrowded conditions, problems with handling mentally ill inmates and the overuse of harsh punishments.
The problems, according to the study, are rooted in part in a 2013 decision by the Illinois Department of Corrections to consolidate the populations of its two largest women’s prisons at Logan, an aging facility that had been used to house about 1,500 men. IDOC now houses about 2,000 women there, according to the review, including hundreds of inmates with mental health problems.
The state’s prison system made the transition “with limited planning, staff training and efforts to take into account the unique nature and needs of such a large, complex women’s prison population of all security levels,” the report states, outlining how women are often treated too harshly and their stays behind bars are extended unnecessarily. […]
“Our staff is our greatest asset. They work hard every day to maintain order in our facilities and protect public safety across this state,” IDOC Director John Baldwin said in an email. “But it is clear they did not receive critical and necessary training on how to work with female offenders in 2013, when Logan transitioned from a male to female facility.”
Um, director, no offense, but 2013 was three years ago and you’ve been on the job since August of 2015.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20161126/expansion-of-mental-health-unit-planned-at-logan-correctional-center
Perhaps this will help. Or add to the things that haven’t yet been effectively implemented.
- DHSBob - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
Let’s be clear and cut through the all the BS. I worked at Logan for 11 years. It was co-ed at the time “yes.. co-ed”. The officers (not all of them) are familiar with handling female inmates. The real problem is that Dems/liberals complained about mentally ill patients in special centers and closed them forcing most of them into DOC. Officers are not trained to handle the mentally ill!!
- tobor - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
Every hourly Correctional Officer saw this coming.
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
If Bernie Sanders can almost win the nomination, then why can’t Pat Quinn be the Democrat’s nominee for President in 2020?
- illini - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
The Tribune has reported a disturbing situation as prompted by outside investigations and organizations.
So, lets blame everything on Pat Quinn without looking at a bigger picture and the dynamics and issues that were unintended consequences of a decision made when he was our Governor !
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
On that point, if you need a good laugh
http://www.zazzle.com/pat_quinn_democrat_for_president_2016_button-145220860494995685
- Captain Illini - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
Add this to the list of things “not done” by an administration who could care less about a litany of social ills, including those in prison. Maybe the Governor will become more involved when IDOC has a private partner and no union.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
Let’s not forget the BigBrain collect his own consent decree by signin’ the DOC mental health deal.
- blacked ed - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 4:45 pm:
There was a former inmate, that was a part of the study. Hard to be non basis, when you were housed there???? The real problem is not enough places to send the different level inmates. Admin also does not want to work the security levels properly. This creates huge problems….
- to the point - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 4:59 pm:
Why does the Department of Justice have to tell DOC that these problems exist. Where are the internal monitoring mechanisms. They have layers upon layers of managerial/administrative personnel ostensibly to monitor the operation these facilities. And nobody knew????
- Strobby - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 5:17 pm:
How long will it take to clean up the mess from this administration ??
- Angry Chicagoan - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 6:33 pm:
And how is it supposed to be even remotely properly handled by an administration whose MO will simply cause more repeats of this? This is a result of the downsize-until-small-enough-to-drown-it-in-the-bathtub mentality of Grover Norquist and other similar activists that has permeated our politics–almost the entire GOP and too much of the Democratic Party as well. Rauner is among the last people I’d expect to plan out or provide appropriate resources for these kinds of transitions.
- Liberty - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 7:31 pm:
Clearly the solution is to cut wages and benefits…
- sal-says - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:04 pm:
== Um, director, no offense, but… ==
Well, maybe some offense SHOULD be taken here.
The bottom line is that we are all people. Some people, by the grace of God or fate, end up more fortunate than others.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 9:06 pm:
Why has this current Director not been confirmed yet? Hmmmm.
- The Equalizer - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 10:02 pm:
He mentioned the staff at length, and it feels almost backhanded. He did not mention management. Lots of blame here for past and present management.
- Dr X - Wednesday, Nov 30, 16 @ 7:39 am:
Redistricting now!!!
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Nov 30, 16 @ 8:43 am:
Don Stolworthy’s Iraq prison construction experience would have fixed this up in no time.