Prison boss offers 2nd wave of cuts; Leak: 'You won't save a dime'

Not sure of the total amount being cut from their budget, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) spokesman Brian Fairchild Tuesday said a second wave of proposed budget cuts includes shutting down three more prisons.

However, the budget hole has gotten larger which means IDOC will have to make additional cuts or additional funds redirected to his department. IDOC has already proposed laying off 4500 guards.

"If there are going to be additional cuts in IDOC, we've identified additional areas which includes a variety of options like three correctional centers that are similar to the situations at Valley View."

If there are more cuts, Fairchild said IDOC is proposing the closure of such older facilities like the East Moline Correctional Center by Quad Cities, which is budgeted for $23 million, the Sheridan Correctional Center, which operates on a $30 million budget which is North of Dwight, and the Centralia Correctional Center also $30 million.

"We are looking at closing work camps, a boot camp program in Greene County, adult transition centers (old work release facilities)," he said of the lower security facilities.

Fairchild confirmed IDOC has already sent out layoff notices for personnel working at the Vienna Correctional Center, located 25 miles from Peducah, Ky., and the Illinois Youth Center Valley View, located around Batavia area, a low medium security male facility built in 1966 with a capacity of 228.

The layoff notices have gone out and the closure date is set for May 15.

"They originally announced closure of these facilities in the next fiscal year but due to the increasing shortfalls in state revenue, they have accelerated layoff dates which came from the governor's office," he said.

Fairchild said the layoffs will affect 190 at Valley View and 350 at Vienna. "These are in addition to other statewide layoffs and positions going unfilled due to attrition."

Fairchild said if they were to operate those facilities next year Vienna would be $30 million and Valley View would cost the state about $13.5 million for a total of nearly $44 million.

There are 300 inmates at Valley View and about 1,200 at Vienna. Fairchild said IDOC's population has dropped 1,300 and that IDOC feels it can absorb these cuts and more.

However, former IDOC Deputy Director Spencer Leak Sr., warned state lawmakers if they proceed with cuts that reduce the number of guards or continue with their move to shutdown prisons, it will put the public in harm's-way and won't save a dime.

Leak challenged officials to cut some of the huge salaries "at the top" and use those funds to balance operating costs. "Cut the fat in the executive levels," he said. "These are the same people who are asking for cuts among correctional officers.

"When you look at the budget, you'll see a lot of fat in there like salaries. I would think they would start there first before they cause 4,500 inmates to be release," said Leak.

"When they're released, they have to put them on parole which means there has to be more services like drug rehabilitation, job placement," Leak said.

"If you don't give these services, they'll be back in prison within 45 days," Leak said referring to the already high recidivism rate.