Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled plans to demolish and rebuild historic Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet.
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration said on Friday it plans to rebuild two Illinois prisons, including the nearly century-old Stateville Correctional Center just southwest of Chicago, as part of a nearly $1 billion project scheduled to be completed over the next three to five years.
Pritzker’s administration said it expects that once they’re completed, the rebuilt prisons will save the state an average of $34 million annually by lowering overtime, maintenance and utility costs. National Guardsmen restore order in the circular cell blocks at Stateville Prison after 1,500 convicts rioted, lighting several buildings on fire, on March 18, 1931. Three convicts were shot during the rioting, one of them was gravely wounded with a bullet to the abdomen.
“The units lack dayroom space or any adjacent program space. Cells are small and there is limited electrical connections resulting in extension cords run from cell to cell. Due to limited line-of-sight, an intensive level of staffing is necessary to adequately supervise these units. Maintaining a constant ambient temperature is nearly impossible from the lower tier to the upper tier.”
“There are a number of significant improvements that must be undertaken to establish a positive environment for re-entry programming at Stateville. This includes improving living units and providing access to vocational and work-skill programs,” the consultants said.
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