Illinois - Prison Saved From Budget Ax

In announcing his decision to preserve the maximum-security prison, Gov. Patrick Quinn (D) noted that a Livingston County judge had temporarily blocked the layoff of Pontiac workers until AFSCME Council 31's lawsuit could be resolved.

Pontiac, Illinois

The 137-year-old Pontiac Correctional Center has been saved from the fiscal chopping block.

In announcing his decision to preserve the maximum-security prison, Gov. Patrick Quinn (D) noted that a Livingston County judge had temporarily blocked the layoff of Pontiac workers until AFSCME Council 31's lawsuit could be resolved. The union maintains that the state failed to meet its obligation to bargain with AFSCME first.

Quinn also took into account a temporary restraining order by a Johnston County judge last November that prevented further prison transfers ordered by the Illinois Department of Corrections pending a hearing.

The prison, which houses more than 45,000 adult inmates, was ordered shuttered in December 2008 by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). After the governor’s impeachment in January, however, his successor decided to keep the facility open.

“Everybody did a great job of pulling together, letting the governor’s office know that this is a bad idea,” says Danny Jarrett, president of Local 494 (Council 31). “We have a lot at stake here. Transfers from Pontiac’s population would affect the safety of officers at every correctional center.”