Corrections

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:12

The Governor is requesting a total of $1.2 billion for the Department of Corrections in FY13 which represents a decrease of $109 million or 8.3% below FY12. In terms of General Funds only, the Governor is recommending $1.1 billion which represents a decrease of $112 million or 9.2% below FY12. The Governor’s General Funds request for DOC is $8 million less than the Department spent in FY07.

The closure of the following eight facilities has been proposed in this budget: Tamms Correctional Center, Dwight Correctional Center, and the Adult Transition Centers (ATCs) at Peoria, Crossroads (Chicago), Westside (Chicago), Decatur, Fox Valley (Aurora) and Southern Illinois (Carbondale). All are scheduled to be effective August 31, 2012. Both Tamms and Dwight are maximum security facilities – Tamms for men and Dwight for women.

Given the level of overcrowding in Illinois’ prisons, the closure of any adult correctional facilities is a major concern. Furthermore, this budget does not seem to allow for the transfer of any inmates displaced by the closures because nearly every DOC facility has been cut in this budget request. Current overcrowding levels combined with the recommendation to shutter two maximum security facilities would, in a real world situation, likely require increases to certain facilities to absorb the displaced inmates.

DOC estimates a reduction of approximately 980 headcount with this proposal. This budget assumes no step and cola increases for FY13. It assumes a savings of $76 million associated with Personal Services including the closure of Dwight ($20M), Tamms ($15M), the Adult Transitional Centers listed above ($8M) and the restructuring of the Field Services division ($15M) effective July 1, 2012.

The large decrease in the field services line, $38 million or 35.2%, will be realized through the adoption of new policies to reorganize parole. The reorganization will implement the use of electronic monitoring for low level offenders. The headcount in the field services division will be decreased by around 200 parole staff.

Just a few short months ago, the Governor threatened to close Logan Correctional Center. That idea was dropped when it became apparent that was impractical. This may be more of the same. There is little to no detail on how or why these facilities were targeted for closure and the Administration does not acknowledge that Illinois’ prisons are dangerously overcrowded.

The chart shown at right details the Governor's recommendations by facility. The Governor's office has provided the following additional detail regarding targeted Correctional Facilities.

Tamms Correctional Center