Governor says 'Stateville closed, Thomson open'

It's Official . . . well, sort of

By Tom Kocal, TKocal@prairie-advocate-news.com

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says he wants to close a portion of Stateville Penitentiary in Joliet, in favor of utilizing the new, state-of-the-art, but nearly empty Thomson Correctional Center (TCC) in Thomson. Local officials are pleased, but skeptical. Joliet officials are steaming mad.

Blagojevich gave his sixth State of the State address Wednesday, Feb. 20, but did not mention his proposal that would be the beginning of the end for the oldest portion of the Stateville facility. Derek Schnapp, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) confirmed today that the proposal was real.

"The proposal - it is only a proposal, and still in the hands of the lawmakers - is part of our state-wide plan to improve the safety and efficiency of the DOC prisons by eliminating the older, less-efficient facilities in favor of the newer, safer, more modern prisons, such as the Thomson facility," Schnapp told the Prairie Advocate.

According to the DOC website, Stateville was built to hold 1,506 maximum-security adult males, in 1925. Today, the average daily population is over 2,770. It is one of the most overpopulated Level One maximum security prisons in the Illinois prison system, creating an unsafe inmate to guard ratio.

Schnapp said the Stateville Correctional Center is made up of three sections. The first is the Reception and Classification Center, one of 3 such facilities in the state. Being in the northern part of Illinois near Cook County, it is the most used of the three, and currently houses 1600 inmates. It will remain open.

"Over 600 inmates a week go through the Reception and Classification Center, which is the first stop on their way through the system," Schnapp said. "It takes about 2 weeks for the inmates to be properly classified. Then they are moved to the appropriate DOC facilities."

The second facility is a Minimum Security Unit (MSU) that houses 200 inmates, and serves the same purpose as the now open MSU at the Thomson Prison. These inmates work in the prison laundry, cafeteria, and perform landscaping, janitorial and maintenance jobs. This section will also remain open.

It's the 83-year-old section that will eventually be eliminated. Schnapp confirmed that the plan is to begin opening 2 of the 8 cell houses at Thomson in July of this year, the beginning of FY 2009. Each cell house holds 200 inmates. That means an initial transfer of 400 maximum security prisoners to Thomson. More importantly, that also means 183 new jobs, and that pleases Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-36, Moline), whose 36th District is home to the TCC.

"I'm a happy camper, so far," Jacobs cautiously replied. "The overcrowded conditions at Stateville are causing dangerous situations for the guards. Thomson is ready to go, and will be much safer. Some guards already in the system may transfer, and if they do, they're be welcomed to our communities. By the end of 2010, there will be upwards of 400 new jobs at the TCC."

Rep. Jim Sacia (R-89, Pecatonica) is equally pleased. "What's so important in this decision is that there is definitely $71 million in the FY'09 budget that is earmarked for one of the key budget initiatives identified by DOC," Sacia said. "That being the expansion of the Lawrence and Thomson Correctional Centers. An additional 271 max. security beds will be provided at Lawrence, and 200 inmates will begin transferring to Thomson in July. We're not sure how the $71 million will be split between the two facilities, but DOC speaks with a high degree of probability that this will happen."

Sacia added that the DOC budget for FY 2009 increased by more than 5%, from $1.34 million in 2008, up to $1.41 million. "That's where the additional $71 million comes from."

Several Carroll County officials remain skeptical in spite of the good news. One of them is the Village of Thomson president, Jerry "Duke" Hebeler. "I won't believe it until I see it," he commented. "It will definitely help our economy around here - if it opens."

Sharon Hook, Chairman of the Carroll County Board (D-2), agreed. "Having 400 new jobs here by 2010 will hopefully help local real estate sales, and the economy in general. I hope they follow through on their proposal."

"The news is good, if it happens," added Thomson businessman and attorney Lawrence Bruckner. "But remember - all the things that are positives for us, are negatives for Joliet."

Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-43, Joliet) confirmed that there will be a fight to keep the 400 jobs in his district, saying in a phone interview, "I am adamantly opposed to the idea."

Several issues concern Wilhelmi with this proposal. He said that Stateville is unique, as it is the site of not only a traditional prison, but also houses the Reception and Classification Center (R&C) for Northern Illinois adjacent to the part of the prison that is scheduled to close.

"DOC should close a prison that isn't an R&C," Wilhelmi said. "It would make more sense. To me, there are a lot of questions regarding the DOC's thought process. I am not convinced that this is the best option."

Schnapp was asked about the "DOC thought process," and if the decision by the governor to close a portion of Stateville and gradually open Thomson came as a result of the information gathered in the $500,000 Harvey Rose study of the DOC system, and if the "state-wide plan" that he mentioned regarding closing old facilities and opening, or better utilizing, new facilities, was also a result of this study.

"The Harvey Rose report did reference the use of newer facilities, however that was not the driving force behind this recommendation," Schnapp said. "Focusing the mission of Stateville to the complete utilization of the modern, state of the art reception and classification center, and to handling the court writs to Cook and the collar counties played a larger role in this decision."

Another of Wilhelmi's concerns are the loss of jobs in his district. "We'll be asking hundreds of families to move, affecting their lives significantly. Relocation is an issue."

Wilhelmi is also concerned with the effect on the local economy. "Prisons have lots of vendors that will be affected, creating other negative economic factors.

"This is in my district, and I'm very concerned. Closing Stateville is a monumental decision."

Wilhelmi said he will sit in on the Appropriations 1 senate committee this week, and that this item has been added to the agenda.

"Wilhelmi's concerns are valid, but it has been estimated that it will cost the state at least $31 million to upgrade the old part of Stateville. Why do that? Use the $140 million state-of-the-art Thomson facility!" Jacobs said.

"I have heard a cost of over $100 million to get Stateville upgraded," Sacia added. "That's like taking a '49 Chevy and trying to upgrade it to meet today's road standards. It just doesn't make sense."

Joliet is the county seat of Will County in Northeast Illinois, one of the fastest growing counties in the United States for the past several years. Carroll County, in Northwest Illinois on the opposite side of the state, has lost residents consistently for over 20 years. Laurie Gungel, Director of the Carroll County Economic Development Corporation, hopes these facts are considered during the upcoming political battle in Springfield.

"We would welcome the transfer of staff and inmates to the Thomson facility. We have already made the investment toward that goal," Gungel explained. "We know that good changes for one area may not be so good for another. This proposal by the governor gives Carroll County residents another opportunity to make our feelings known, and tell our legislators that it is time to open the Thomson Correctional Center."

Amid rumors of the appointment of a new director, Schnapp confirmed that "DOC Director Roger Walker is still the head of our agency."

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