Union members at prisons across Illinois including Centralia, Big Muddy, and Vandalia held demonstrations Thursday afternoon outside the prison entrance to send a message to the Illinois Department of Corrections and state legislators that safety matters.
Keith Kracht is President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 203 at the Centralia Correctional Center. He was among those carrying signs asking to improve the handling of prisoner mail that may contain drugs and to address the shortage of workers.
“We’re not sure what the drugs that are coming in are,” Kracht said. “They’re some kind of synthetic, or some kind of amalgamation of drugs that have been out there in the public illegally before. However they’re coming in, it needs to stop, and it needs to stop now.”
Kracht also feels prisoners involved in bringing drugs in need to face greater consequences.
In response, the Illinois Department of Corrections released a statement recognizing the difficult and challenging situations staff face every day in their efforts to keep our state safe. IDOC says safety of staff, individuals in custody and everyone entering their facilities remains their top priority.
While they are actively exploring options to enhance safety, IDOC says measures are in place to address potential risks associated with mail handling. IDOC has a Suspicious Substance Emergency Procedure in place, which outlines the steps to be taken if a suspicious substance is discovered. Additionally, they have intensified mail screening protocols, encouraged the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and deployed tactical units to conduct targeted facility searches.
The statement says they are working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois State Police, and medical experts to identify the cause of recent incidents and determine long-term solutions. Those efforts are focused on improving safety while ensuring individuals in custody maintain essential communications and family connections.
IODC says they remain committed to working with all stakeholders, including labor partners, to ensure a safe and secure working environment for our staff.
Photo by Pat Hodges.
Photo by Pat Hodges.
Photo by Pat Hodges.
