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* This story has been getting some play…
It took more than four days for the Illinois Department of Corrections to capture escaped prisoner Jared Carter. The hunt involved more than 100 department employees, as well as helicopters, airplanes, and state police personnel. But there’s one thing that was left out of the search due to Illinois state budget cuts: a prison canine unit.
To help slash his state’s budget, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn nixed five dog-handling jobs in the department last year, according to information obtained by The Quad-City Times. And, without handlers, that meant Gov. Quinn had to lay off the dogs.
Local police dogs were used in the search, which the Department of Corrections says worked out fine.
* But there were some items in Kurt Erickson’s original story unrelated to the search for the escaped prisoner that stood out for me. For instance…
The unit was in place primarily to search cells for drugs and contraband, and to sniff out problems with visitors and vendors.
Without those dogs, the guards have to do the cell and visitor searches on their own, so contraband could get by them.
* And then there’s this…
Along with having no dogs within the agency to search for fugitives, Shaer confirmed that one of the guard towers was not staffed when Carter walked off.
But, he said, Carter’s departure spot could not be viewed from the tower anyway. “The tower being manned was not a factor,” he added.
Oy.
*** UPDATE *** From AFSCME’s Anders Lindall in comments…
Due to staff cuts, Tower One at Robinson is closed save for three approximately hourlong periods each day. Contrary to Shaer’s claim, frontline employees at Robinson report that Tower One is located just 200 yards from where the escape occurred and has a direct line of sight over the area.
Perimeter security has also been reduced at Robinson due to lack of staff. A van that used to patrol the facility’s perimeter 24-7 is now in use only from dusk to dawn, and even then not continuously as the van driver also performs other duties.
So at the time of this escape, the tower nearest the site was closed, there was no patrol outside the perimeter - and no canine unit to respond.
All this at a facility more than 200% overcrowded. Built for 600 inmates, Robinson had 1,209 at the department’s last quarterly report to the General Assembly.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 11:17 am
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It didn’t matter that a tower was unmanned because the prisoner escaped in another spot?
There’s spin and then there’s….. that.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 11:28 am
What. The. Heck.
Consolidating the prisons was supposed to save money and make it easier to efficiently ensure things like guard shacks were properly occupied.
Not harder.
Have Quinn or Godinez let media back into the system yet? Or did we just give up because they kept saying no?
You think the reason they recently started saying “no more cameras and journalists in the prisons” might have something to do with the deteriorating conditions and added overcrowding?
Nah. Couldn’t be.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 11:30 am
Due to staff cuts, Tower One at Robinson is closed save for three approximately hourlong periods each day. Contrary to Shaer’s claim, frontline employees at Robinson report that Tower One is located just 200 yards from where the escape occurred and has a direct line of sight over the area.
Perimeter security has also been reduced at Robinson due to lack of staff. A van that used to patrol the facility’s perimeter 24-7 is now in use only from dusk to dawn, and even then not continuously as the van driver also performs other duties.
So at the time of this escape, the tower nearest the site was closed, there was no patrol outside the perimeter - and no canine unit to respond.
All this at a facility more than 200% overcrowded. Built for 600 inmates, Robinson had 1,209 at the department’s last quarterly report to the General Assembly.
Comment by Anders Lindall, AFSCME Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 11:33 am
There’s an Oscar joke in here somewhere.
No dogs allowed at the State Fair, no dogs allowed in the state prisons either apparently.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 11:35 am
=== Due to staff cuts, Tower One at Robinson is closed ===
=== due to lack of staff ===
=== more than 200% overcrowded ===
We closed a number of facilities.
Then we crammed those prisoners into existing facilities.
And yet, somehow, we wind up with fewer guards watching more inmates?
The cost savings of closing those facilities wasn’t enough to keep a few extra guards around?
Or at least maintain as many guards as we had before at the open facilities?
And what happened to all those employees who were supposed to be transferred from the shuttered facilities to the ones remaining open?
Thanks for posting, @AndersLindall.
We may not always agree, but I think we can agree here: this is crazy.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 11:54 am
As I understand it, we would save money if we hired new corrections guards instead of paying so much in overtime. And of course, since overtime pay is included in pension calculations, we’d save for years to come.
Just sayin
Comment by Budget nerd Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 11:58 am
In regards to the dogs, if there were only five correctional dog handlers for the state department of corrections, then plenty of contraband was probably circulating anyway. Tons of stuff gets into prisons for a variety of reasons.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 12:08 pm
On the bright side, it will make the exposition scene of any Illinois Prison break movie that much shorter….
So let me get this right, I just have to wait for the van driver to have to unclog a toilet some night during the majority of the time the tower is not in use…
Sweet.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 12:16 pm
This is just the tip of the IDOC iceburg. No vision and no long range plans? Godinez will keep this Agency in the 70’s — instead of proactive, it appears to be constantly reactive! Time for some some serious IDOC Executive changes PQ. Public Safety & Taxpayer $ now are at risk.
Comment by Barney Fife Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 12:20 pm
Speaking for White Star Lines Tom Shaer also pointed out that even though there were not enough lifeboats for everyone it was the iceberg that caused the ship to sink, not a lack of lifeboats…
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 12:31 pm
Godinez only knows one way to run a prison (Agency) and that is to make deals with the gang leaders. It is a shame when AFSCME only cares about staffing while they sit by and watch a system that was reformed away from gang control… To administration control… Reverting to the old ways of special privileges for gang leaders. You can have all of the staff in the world, but if you have a system moving toward dysfunction… It won’t matter.
Comment by Richard speck Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 12:32 pm
@Formerly Known As wrote, We closed a number of facilities. Then we crammed those prisoners into existing facilities. And yet, somehow, we wind up with fewer guards watching more inmates?
Here are the numbers.
As of March 2013, IDOC had 10,922 employees. A year earlier, 11,674. That’s a loss of 752 employees (7% of the current workforce) in the past year alone.
The long-range picture is even worse. Corrections (then combined with what is now Juvenile Justice) had nearly 17,000 employees as recently as 2002.
Overall, the state workforce has been slashed from 65,000 in 2001 to just 44,000 today. And actions have consequences.
Comment by Anders Lindall, AFSCME Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 12:42 pm
You get what you pay for and the state hasn’t paid what is required to operate this department in a long time. Everybody wants government to do more with less. Well, this is what you get.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 1:38 pm
Can you really lay the blame for this at the feet of Godinez? Gov’s office is totally shaken by IDOC except when it comes to the agency’s budget. This is a Warden’s problem. Really though…
Comment by friend of a friend Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:00 pm
The Filanesque approach would disagree with you, as you’re not factoring in retiree health care costs (Other Post Employment Benefits, or OPBE). Not saying that should be the deciding factor, or that its even relevant, or that those costs are correctly projected, but quite often when Filan / his successors said “no” in situations like the one you describe, OPBE is the unstated reason why.
Comment by Smitty Irving Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 2:52 pm
Does anyone know if PQ’s appointment of Director Godinez was confirmed by the Senate? If I recall, that hasn’t been done, or maybe it was done quietly???
Comment by Cosmic Charlie Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 3:09 pm
I grew up in Robinson, and have many friends and family still there. The prison escape basically shut down the town for four days, while constant rumors sent people into a panic. To hear he walked away from a mowing crew and no one noticed….doesn’t really instill confidence in residents.
To the officers who did look for him for four days in the summer heat, I say a heartfelt thanks. Glad this story had a happy ending.
Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:06 pm
Vote Quimby! (great handle), good to hear from you. Don’t be a stranger.
Like Paul Ricca said about Tony Accardo, you have more brains for breakfast than Al Capone had all day.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:25 pm
Cosmic Charlie. No, Godinez has not been Confirmed. The Gov’s Office stalled the 12 member Executive Appointments Committee from calling it for a vote. This occurs prior to going to the Senate for a vote. They know he won’t be approved by the Committe or confirmed. They delayed it till fall session. Keep in mind Godinez is on session days clock, a few more and he is automatically OUT.
Comment by Barney Fife Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 4:29 pm
DOC is short staff as many state offices and bureaus are, but only DOC, DOT, and ISP have high human risks for those shortages. Unbelievable. On a lighter note….did Oscar contribute to this blog for his fellow canines? Another good one Rich. Oscar has made you a kinder and gentler Rich Miller (not that you weren’t before).
Comment by Maxine Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 5:34 pm
Hey, what’s more important you guys? The Illinois prison system, the safety of the Illinois public, and the moral and ethical aspects of this governmental and political farce? Hell no! What are your priorties? Pat has it all ranked in order on a sheet of paper in his car. Priority # 1 is get re-elected. Priority #2 is to give priority to Priority #1 and get re-elected. Priority #3 is to proceed with the renovation of the Capitol Building after waiting for a little while after pretending that you are aghast at the huge amount of money being spent on three doors and other frivilous discretionary spending of taxpayer money.
Comment by The Dragon's Breath Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 6:07 pm
Thanks wordslinger…. I still read this blog often, just don’t comment as much since plying my wares in the Show Me State for almost three years.
And I have to confess….it is now a form of comic relief to watch Illinois from a safe distance.
Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 7:02 pm
Ok short staffed, can’t man towers, closed prisons, no dogs, but we can still pay crazy salaries to ISEA union majors and superintendents? Seriously do they deserve 130 grand a year? Maybe that’s the reason for all the cuts to continue paying these salaries something(s) had to go.
Comment by Sweet Dreams Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 7:12 pm
– Show Me State for almost three years.
And I have to confess….it is now a form of comic relief to watch Illinois from a safe distance.–
LOL, relief that you’re not watching the Missouri legislature? The Big Brains of ALEC seems to be running the show in Jeff City.
Be well, dude.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 7:28 pm
What we got here is a failure to communicate, three months in the box!
Comment by Cool Hand Luke Thursday, Sep 12, 13 @ 7:55 pm
Ok. So, did he actually escape or was this the start of another of Quinn’s double secret early release programs?
Comment by eyeswideshut Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 9:42 am