Quinn Announces Prison Closures In Memo

The state’s most dangerous prisoners may soon be leaving their current cell-blocks. It’s part of Governor Pat Quinn‘s plan to close certain prisons.

Quinn will close two state prisons and a pair of juvenile detention centers, even though the legislature included funding in the budget to keep them open.

That’s according to Representative Brandon Phelps, a Democrat from Harrisburg. He says he received a letter from the governor’s office about its plans to move forward with closures.  Phelps says that will be economically devastating for his district.  Phelps represents Alexander County, where Tamms super max prison is located.  He says closing it would be a mistake.

REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON PHELPS:  ”The governor says he’s the jobs governor. Well, today you didn’t show it, because you’re cutting a lot of jobs that a lot of these communities need.”

Tamms was built to house the state’s most violent inmates, but it has drawn criticism for human rights violations.  Phelps helped arrange to include money in the budget so Tamms could be converted to a medium security facility.

The memo Phelps received from also states that the administration will close the state prison in Dwight and juvenile detention facilities in Murphysboro and Joliet, as well as centers that help inmates transition out of prison.

-Rachel Otwell