Kankakee Times

Legislators learned this month that the state might be looking to close portions of Pontiac Correctional Center.

According to a SCRIBD report, a copy of IDOC Bureau of Operations Facility Consolidation/Conversion Overview was obtained by Heart of Illinois ABC that stated the prison population has shrunk to 27,000 inmates from 38,000 and COVID is a hurdle in the prison hiring needed personnel.

Plans are in the works to cease operations at Pontiac Correctional Center and the East/West Cellhouse by March 16 for the medium security unit (MSU) and the rest of the complex later in the spring or into summer, according to the report.

SCRIBD reports that the MSU comprises of five, one story T-House buildings with a maximum capacity of 431 and current population at 329 (76% capacity). The unit also has three security towers.

State Rep Thomas M. Bennett (R-Pontiac) posted a letter he wrote with Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) to Facebook asking that the General Assembly ask the IDOC administration, along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Director of the IDOC, to provide answers.

“We will continue to update our constituents on this situation once we are provided with more information,” Bennett wrote.   

WLDS is reporting that the Pontiac Correctional Center isn’t the only institution that will be impacted as the IDOC is also considering plans to reduce operations at the Vandalia Correctional Center, from a capacity of 1,001 to 401 that would save the state over $15 million in operating costs.  

“IDOC says the department has not started moving people in order to reduce the populations in these facilities, but that claim was disputed by Anders Lindall, public affairs director for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31,” WLDS reported. “Lindall told Capitol News Illinois that IDOC began moving prisoners on Feb. 11.”

 According to the radio station, Lindell said that they had already been informed of the pending closures at Vandalia and Pontiac.