Illinois Judge Orders Closure of Century-Old Stateville Prison by September

A federal judge has ordered the closure of Stateville Correctional Center, a nearly century-old prison in Illinois, by September 30, 2024, due to deteriorating conditions. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood on August 9, 2024, aligns with the Illinois Department of Corrections' plans to renovate the facility.

Stateville Correctional Center, located in Crest Hill, Illinois, has been operational since 1925. The prison, designed by William Carbys Zimmerman, is known for its panopticon "F-House" roundhouse, which was closed in 2016 due to safety and sanitary concerns. Over its 99-year history, Stateville has housed notorious inmates such as John Wayne Gacy and Richard Speck, and was the site of Illinois' last execution by electric chair in 1962.

Judge Wood's order requires the transfer of over 400 inmates to other facilities across the state. The decision comes after civil rights lawyers argued that the prison's conditions were hazardous, citing issues such as:

• Falling concrete from deteriorating walls and ceilings
• Surfaces covered with bird feathers and excrement
• Foul-smelling water from faucets

The Illinois Department of Corrections plans to rebuild Stateville on the same campus, along with potentially relocating the Logan prison for women from Lincoln to the Crest Hill site. This renovation project, announced by Governor J.B. Pritzker's administration in March 2024, is estimated to cost $900 million and take up to five years to complete.

While the closure aligns with the state's plans, it has faced opposition from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 (AFSCME), the union representing most prison workers. AFSCME spokesperson Anders Lindall expressed concerns about the disruption to employees' lives and the potential loss of staff cohesion.

"We are examining all options to prevent that disruption in response to this precipitous ruling."

The closure and renovation of Stateville Correctional Center are part of a larger trend of prison reform in Illinois. Throughout its history, the prison has faced numerous lawsuits regarding inmate treatment and conditions. Despite its maximum security rating and capacity for approximately 1,500 inmates, Stateville has often been overcrowded.

In recent years, the prison has implemented various educational and vocational programs for inmates, as well as sustainability initiatives such as a recycling program. Stateville has also maintained a long-standing partnership with Northwestern University for medical research.

As the September 30 deadline approaches, the Illinois Department of Corrections faces the challenge of safely transferring inmates while addressing the concerns of prison employees. The outcome of this significant change in the state's correctional system will likely have far-reaching implications for prison reform efforts across the United States.