Correctional center’s planned relocation draws mixed reactions

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Local officials are not happy about the Illinois Department of Corrections’ decision to relocate Logan Correctional Center from Lincoln to Crest Hill, but a state senator from Joliet says the move is cost-effective.

The Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois Capital Development Board announced the decision last week and said Friday they were seeking a “progressive design build entity” to construct two new facilities in the Will County city of Crest Hill.

The new facilities are slated to replace Logan, a women’s correctional center, and the now-closed Stateville Correctional Center for men in Crest Hill.

State Sen. Sally Turner, R-Beason, state Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, and Logan County Board Chair James Glenn promptly released a statement calling the decision to relocate Logan “ill-advised and devastating.”

Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch said his community would likely see a reduction in population.

“There will definitely be a loss of sales tax revenue, property tax revenue, and our local businesses will likely see an impact to this as well,” Welch told The Center Square.

Welch said local schools would also be affected as people move away.

The mayor said, until recently, there was some hope that Logan might remain open.

State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said the relocation is a good move for the state as a whole.

“First, we do have another facility at Lincoln where those workers can transition, so we don’t anticipate individuals losing their jobs. We do need a women’s facility up north where some family members can visit their loved ones,” Ventura told The Center Square.

Turner said there are about as many inmates from south of I-80 as there are from north of I-80.

“We also believe that we have the individuals here that are trained in the workforce for the women’s prison, which is different than being trained for a men’s prison,” Turner told The Center Square.

The new facilities, one for men and one for women, are slated to replace Logan and the now-closed Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill.

Turner said Logan has generational families that raised their families in Lincoln.

“It’s going to be devastating to our community,” Turner said.

Ventura said it will be more cost-effective to build two prisons simultaneously in Will County.

“This allows the state to go out to bid for a design-build for both prisons now. That will allow us to come in on time and be the most cost-effective,” Ventura said.

Ventura said the cost estimate for the new Stateville facilities remained unchanged at $900 million.