Stateville Prison Will Close Amid Safety and Repair Issues

The Illinois Department of Corrections has begun moving inmates out of Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, adhering to a federal court order due to the prison's poor conditions. The aging facility opened in 1925 and saw John Wayne Gacy's execution and was said to be in need of $286 million in overdue maintenance. Last spring, Gov. JB Pritzker's administration said the prison would be shuttered and replaced with a new facility on adjacent land. However, specific details about the new prison design, demolition, and construction timeline still remain undisclosed.

Acting Corrections Director Latoya Hughes emphasized that the closure is essential for safety, efficiency, and rehabilitation. US District Judge Andrea Wood mandated the evacuation of the prison's 430 inmates by September 30, highlighting severe maintenance issues like falling concrete, unsanitary bird droppings, and foul water.

Concerns abound from employees and service providers regarding the disruption during the transition to the new facility. Stateville staff members worry about job security and possible long commutes if they are reassigned to other prisons. State Sen. Rachel Ventura was critical of the lack of updates: "If they're going to shut it down (Sept. 30), well, what are you doing with it? Are you transferring furniture out of there? Are you getting out a demo plan? Are you getting an environmental study done? These would be the next logical steps, but to have nothing, no response from DOC on this—again, highly concerning." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)