The union representing state prison workers in Illinois is seeking a federal court order to ensure the rights and safety of employees as the state shutters the century-old Stateville Correctional Center outside Chicago. The closure of Stateville is part of a larger plan by the Illinois Department of Corrections to replace the facility with a new one on the same site, as well as to rebuild a women’s lockup in a different location. Most inmates at Stateville have already been moved due to safety concerns such as falling concrete, bird excrement, and foul-smelling water.
As the closure of Stateville progresses, concerns have been raised about the impact on employees. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is worried about the ability of Stateville workers to find new jobs, especially considering that many of them already travel long distances to reach the facility. AFSCME and the Department of Central Management Services have been in talks to ensure that employees have alternatives for employment without losing pay or having to travel excessive distances. Another concern is the safety of staff at other prisons in the state that are accepting transfers from Stateville.
The AFSCME complaint includes details of recent attacks on staff members at other facilities, allegedly as a result of understaffing and the transfer of maximum-security inmates to prisons that are not equipped to handle them. Corrections officials have stated that inmates from Stateville will be placed in facilities based on their medical, mental health, and educational needs, along with their security level. AFSCME is pushing for assurances that these inmates will not be reclassified to fit the needs of receiving facilities. The union also highlights the rise in inmate-on-inmate assaults, citing a 53% increase in assaults in the previous fiscal year.
U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood is set to consider the complaint from AFSCME in a hearing on Wednesday. The union is seeking to ensure that employees are not left without job options as Stateville closes and that the safety of staff at other facilities is not compromised by the transfer of inmates. The closure of Stateville is part of a larger, multi-year plan by the Illinois Department of Corrections to modernize and replace aging prison facilities in the state. While progress is being made in moving inmates and addressing safety concerns, the union is advocating for the rights and well-being of prison workers throughout the process.
As discussions continue between AFSCME, the Department of Central Management Services, and the Illinois Department of Corrections, the focus remains on finding solutions that prioritize the safety and security of both employees and inmates. The closure of Stateville and the transfer of inmates to other facilities present challenges that must be addressed through collaboration and cooperation between the various stakeholders involved. AFSCME’s efforts to protect the rights and safety of prison workers are an important aspect of ensuring a smooth transition during the closure of Stateville and the modernization of Illinois’ correctional facilities.
