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CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Lawmakers from around Illinois recently met with staff from the Pontiac Correctional Center to discuss unsafe work conditions.
WCIA reported that prison workers from Central Illinois demonstrated on Oct. 17 and demanded that the Department of Corrections puts measures in place to prevent illegal substances, enforce consequences of abusing substances and staff, and hire more workers.
State Senator Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City), State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) and State Representative Dennis Tipsword (R-Eureka) discussed ongoing drug exposure incidents, concerns and possible solutions with Pontiac staff.
“Our correctional staff are on the frontlines, facing escalating dangers every day. The pickets last week make it clear that the administration must step up and prioritize the safety of these men and women,” Senator Bennett said. “Along with several of my colleagues, I am advocating for comprehensive safety measures to be put in place.”
According to a report from American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31, drugs are a growing issue in correctional facilities.
Senator Bryant said he hopes to combat this issue.
“For more than two years, I have been working to bring attention to the dangerous conditions that both correctional officers and residents in our correctional facilities have had to endure for far too long,” Senator Bryant said. “These recent rallies held by AFSCME members make it clear that this problem can no longer be ignored by this administration. It is well past time for swift and meaningful measures to be implemented to ensure the health and safety of everyone who lives and works within these facilities.”
Representative Tipsword said that a digital mail system could be a viable solution to make mail safer in prisons and jails.
“The mail is looked at on a secure tablet, thus keeping staff and inmates safe. The program has little or no cost to facilitate,” Representative Tipsword said.
For more information on the work that AFSCME members have done, visit their website.