Families of Illinois prison inmates and legal advocates spoke out this week against the new program implemented by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) that restricts incarcerated people's access to incoming mail.
The IDOC announced in August it was launching the program after the union representing correctional offices issued a report last year that described an "explosion of illegal drug use" in the state prison system that was endangering the health and safety of correctional officers and prison staff. But critics argue it violates prisoners' civil rights and said there is little evidence to support the idea that the mail was a major source of contraband.
Both State Senator Chapin Rose and State Representative Adam Niemerg toured the state prison facilities in their district, including the Lawrence Correctional Center at Sumner and threw their support behind the new program. Tenielle Fitzjarrald, president of the local union that represents officers at the Lawrence Correctional Center, said that working conditions at the facility before the mail scanning plan was put into place were unacceptable. Since the scanning began, she said conditions have greatly improved.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is scheduled to review the policy again at its' next monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 18th in Chicago.
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