* Tribune…
Logan women’s prison would be moved onto the same site as the men’s maximum security Stateville Correctional Center as part of a plan to rebuild both facilities, according to a proposal the Illinois Department of Corrections has submitted to a state commission.
The recommendations from IDOC come a little more than a month after Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled a plan to rebuild Stateville and Logan prisons. The governor said the project would cost close to $1 billion, while offering few other details.
The proposal to move Logan from its longtime location in Lincoln, Ill., about 30 miles northeast of Springfield, to the Stateville property in Crest Hill, near Joliet, was included in a report IDOC provided to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability on Friday, part of a lengthy facilities closure process mandated by the state. […]
The IDOC recommendations sent Friday maintain that the Department does not expect any employees to lose their jobs in the process unless they voluntarily choose a layoff. More than 450 people are staffed at Logan Correctional Center and 939 are employed at Stateville, IDOC said.
* From the IDOC report to COGFA…
IDOC is considering moving Logan from its present location in Lincoln, IL. Specifically, as the Department’s planning has progressed, the current preferred plan for Logan is to build on available ground at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois. A move to Crest Hill would permit a more regionalized approach for the women’s facilities by providing a northern facility to pair with the already centrally located facility in Decatur. […]
As of April 15, 2024, the Department’s individual in custody population at Logan is 1081. There are only 1541 female individuals in custody within the entire Department. The Department has deemed Logan necessary to close due to its crumbling infrastructure, outdated design, and significant need for capital investment. Specifically, there are approximately $116 million of capital projects that are required for Logan to remain open and operational long-term. IDOC intends to continue to house the individuals in custody at Logan until the rebuild is complete as long as it is safe to do so. However, in the event the conditions of Logan continue to deteriorate, or a part of its critical infrastructure fails, IDOC may need to relocate all individuals in custody at Logan prior to the completion of the rebuild. […]
Logan Correctional Center serves a multifaceted population consisting of reception and classification, protective custody, general population and mental health units. Nearly 1,000 of Logan’s current housing unit beds were built more than 90 years ago for a mental health population. Most of the buildings at Logan, including most of its housing units were built nearly a century ago for patient wards in a mental health institution. These units do not meet the ideal standards of modern correctional practices, are not supportive of a rehabilitative environment and complicate the overall delivery of required services. Additionally, the facility is fueled by a coal-fired plant that dates back to 1930.
* Also this…
Ability of the current and potential communities to provide the infrastructure to support functions and employees.
Since 2010, Logan County has seen a population decline of 2,715 (1%). The county is 90% white, 8% American Indian/Native American, and 1% Asian. Additionally, approximately 20% of residents aged 25 or older hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Since 2010, Will County, where the Department is seriously considering building the new Logan facility, has experienced significant population growth, with an increase of over 20,000 residents, bringing the total population to approximately 700,000. This demographic expansion includes a diverse population, with 13% identifying as African American and 20% as Hispanic or Latino. Additionally, over 35% of residents aged 25 or older hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
These demographic factors are essential as they ensure a robust talent pool from which to recruit and fill positions, particularly in specialized fields such as medical and social work. Additionally, Will County’s proximity to other collar counties and Cook County enhances access to a broad network of providers and vendors, further supporting the facility’s operational needs and the rebuild process.
* Costs…
The Department estimates that it could take up to approximately $7 million to complete the transition for Logan and Stateville Correctional Centers. Please see below:
o Relocation of Individuals in Custody - $76,200
o Staff Redeployment - $603,800
o Legal Costs - $402,500
o Operational Adjustments at Receiving Facilities - $5,750,000
o Grand Total - $6,832,500
These expenses, once incurred, would be paid from the Department’s operating budget, which is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund
IDOC’s Stateville Correctional Center report is here.
…Adding… Gov. Pritzker was asked about this at an unrelated event…
This is still being worked out. There will be hearings, as you know, this is part of the process. But you have to understand that we have to make changes. This has to happen. Changes have to take place because these prisons have not been upgraded or renovated in many, many years. Many of them are very, very old. and particularly we’re talking about Stateville and Logan.
And so, you know, we’re going to be careful about it, especially because we want to protect not only the corrections officers, but the people who reside in or serving their sentences. And unfortunately, over many years, the state has neglected to do anything about the conditions in these prisons. We’re stepping up and actually making a proposal and then putting the money forward to do the right thing. And I think that should be commended. And I also think that in protecting the people who work there, that’s something that I deeply care about. And we’re going to do that in all of the processes that are lending themselves right now. So I think this is the right way to go. We’re doing it the right way.
Please pardon all transcription errors.