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March 15, 2024

AFSCME raises serious concerns, questions about plan for Stateville, Logan prisons

Our union was only notified late on Thursday, March 14, of the Department of Corrections plan to demolish Stateville and Logan prisons and build new facilities in their place. The department did not seek or consider the input of frontline employees or the union in the development of this plan.

“We have grave concerns,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said. 

“Closing facilities even temporarily would disrupt and potentially destabilize the prison system, while bringing upheaval to the lives of affected employees and individuals in custody.”

 While there is no question that state prisons are in dire need of tens of millions of dollars of deferred maintenance, the information released so far raises many more questions than it answers. For example:

“We cannot support this plan unless and until the department provides satisfactory answers to these compelling questions,” Council 31 Executive Director Lynch said.