Editorial: Thomson Prison is the Clear Choice

(Chicago, IL) — In our judgment, based on long-standing familiarity with Illinois maximum security prisons and a recent visit to Thompson Correctional Center, it is clear that if Illinois leaders have to choose between the new prison at Thomson and Pontiac, or the two other old maximum security facilities at Stateville and Menard, Thomson is the clear choice.

The design of the new facility at Thompson is safer for inmates and staff, provides better access to exercise, has classrooms and other programming areas, and is much more cost efficient in terms of staff, which constitute the largest part of the cost of operating a correctional facility.

The old facilities suffer from poor and outmoded design which makes supervision difficult, putting Corrections Officers and prisoners at risk. The older prisons suffer from substandard ventilation, aged infrastructure, and scores of other problems that come with 19th century construction. Single-celled, Thomson is far superior in all respects for most, not all, types of prisoners. Its considerable benefits could also be compromised if it were to be double-celled.

As is true about the economic impacts of closing one or another prison, there are many factors concerning the needs of specific and special inmate populations which should be considered in making a decision about closing Pontiac specifically, and any other major correctional facility generally. These should be considered in detail and with care. In our opinion, it may not be possible to close any maximum security prison without a reduction in overall inmate populations; the resolution of this among other issues requires a careful inquiry.

The John Howard Association of Illinois urges the Illinois Department of Corrections to develop a genuine master plan to determine which facility or facilities could or should best be targeted for closure. Given the opportunity to do so, the John Howard Association would be willing to participate in development of such a plan or to comment on any existing or proposed plan.