Rep. Niemerg to meet with DOC officials on safety concerns ; to tour Robinson, Lawrence facilities

Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 8:18 PM

By Johnny McCrory

Illinois correctional employees staged pickets at Illinois prisons on Thursday to push for safer working conditions.

State Representatives Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) has requested a meeting and tour of two prison facilities in his district to address the concerns of prison guards and staff about the surge in safety concerns from illegal drug and attacks on correctional officers and other staff.

Rep. Niemerg and Senator Chapin Rose will be meeting with prison personnel and in several days to learn more about the issues surrounding the dangerous working conditions at these correctional facilities for staff and correctional officers.

“This situation has been brought to my attention by multiple DOC employees and I have been in contact with retired and active employees to reach a solution and fix these problems,” said Rep. Niemerg. “I will be touring the Robinson and Lawrenceville facilities with Senator Rose to see first-hand what is going on and invite Governor Pritzker to join us to learn more about the concerns for the safety of correctional guards and staff and the assaults & drug smuggling.”

Illinois correctional employees staged pickets at Illinois prisons on Thursday to push for safer working conditions. The prisons are operated by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) which answers to the Governor. The informational pickets followed numerous reports of threats to the life and safety of prison personnel.

Particular attention is being drawn towards reports of illegal and potentially lethal controlled substances that are allegedly being smuggled into correctional centers. In some cases, these shipments are said to be being made by people making personal visits to the prisons to speak with acquaintances and family members who are in confinement. Other reports suggest the use of mail to smuggle controlled substances.

“The Governor and prison authorities have the obligation and responsibility to keep Illinois correctional centers safe for the people who work in them,” added Rep. Niemerg. “There are 46 facilities in the IDOC system with five maximum security prisons including Robinson Correctional and Lawrence Correctional Centers in the 102^nd District.”

If anyone has any other information they would like to share with Rep. Niemerg on this issue, please contact him at his district office at 217-813-6036.