SPRINGFIELD (AP) – A prison watchdog group is asking Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to reconsider plans to close the Dwight women’s prison.
A statement from John Howard Association executive director John Maki (MA’-kee) on Wednesday says Dwight is the state’s only maximum-security prison for women.
He says the Livingston County facility has been successful in hiring many female correctional officers and training staff to handle a population that overwhelmingly comes from backgrounds of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Quinn wants Dwight closed to save money. He closed the Tamms super-security prison earlier this year and several juvenile detention centers. Maki pointed out John Howard supported those closures.
Maki says Dwight is 80 miles from Chicago – home to many inmates’ families. The distance allows inmates to maintain contact with children.
State News
Group asks Quinn to reconsider closing prison
- State News
-
-
Ill. Senate approves health-coverage exchange plan
SPRINGFIELD (AP) — The Illinois Senate agreed Thursday to create a state-governed "health insurance exchange" where individuals and small businesses could shop for coverage as required by President Barack Obama's health law.
Continued ... -
5 dead in Ill. van crash part of Christian group
BALTIMORE (AP) — Five Baltimore men killed when a van careened off a southern Illinois freeway were members of an evangelical Christian church returning from a weeklong international conference in California, officials said Wednesday.
Continued ... -
New Ill. House gun bill excludes parks, transit
SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Public transportation and municipal parks would be off limits to guns in a compromise proposal filed Wednesday that would regulate the carrying of concealed weapons in Illinois.
Continued ... -
Ill. House committee approves Medicaid expansion
SPRINGFIELD (AP) — A plan to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income adults without children squeaked through an Illinois House committee Tuesday despite scrutiny over a last-minute amendment that would give more flexibility to mental health institutions.
Continued ... -
Ill. Senate panel endorses ammunition limit
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Parents of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims testified Monday in favor of an Illinois limit on the size of ammunition magazines, a proposal that got a Senate committee endorsement.
Continued ... -
Senate Democrats want more school money, not cuts
SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Illinois Senate Democrats want to boost general education funding by $156 million next year, not cut it, key budget negotiators said Friday, but acknowledged the increase would only keep per-student funding level.
Continued ... - Senate committee to consider gun bill
- 'Fracking' supporters say Ill. bill ready for vote
- Cities could restrict places for guns
- Watchdog group says state must address pensions
- Health centers to get $6M to help enroll uninsured
- Illinois Senate OKs union-backed pension deal
- Illinois Senate approves union-backed pension plan
- Republicans: Chair's resignation is time to reboot
- Illinois opens grant process for health guides
- Illinois Senate considers 2 state pension options
- Mayor, Ill. lawmakers make case for Chicago casino
- Court gives more time for concealed carry appeal
- Georgia trucker indicted in Illinois trooper death
- Quinn: Local option way to go on concealed carry
-
Ill. Senate approves health-coverage exchange plan
