Did anyone else got that rumors about Stateville being shut down until 1st of May? Word goes all the guys, except R&C unit, will be transfered to Thomson, the new Max-security which remained unopened after building completion for almost 3 years now.

I would not complain about the location (a 5 hour round trip from Chicago I was told) but my hubby seems to be really concerned about the visiting conditions: visiting is said to be non-contact for everyone including general population.

Stateville visiting conditions are bad compared to Stateville but if true, Thomson would top them all off.

I doubt whether this is anything more than just a rumour. The logistics in moving ALL inmates out of Stateville just for a few months would prohibit doing it. Thompson doesn't seem to be an option either, as it has been purpose built to house the 'most aggressive and violent inmates'. I assume. even more violent and aggressive than those already in the super-max prison, Tamms!! It has twice as many cells as Tamms but I really can't see it being capable of taking all the inmates of Stateville.

If I'm wrong then I'm sure someone here will tell me.

Rose

Though absolutely nothing surprises me at IDOC, it seems to me that it would take nearly from now until May 1 just to get all the guys transferred. Plus, the expense of starting up a facility -- in the winter -- for short term use doesn't seem logical. But what does with IDOC?

This Was The Rumor We Heard While I Was Visiting. Lee Asked My Cousin About It And So Did I. She Claims Not To Know Anything About It. I Heard There Are Supposed To Be 3 Whole Cell Houses Being Moved, But They Weren't Completely Closing Stateville. Again, Rumors Change As They Go Through The Line. So Who Knows. You Would Think Something Major Like That Coming Close So Soon, If True, Would Be On The News. But Then Again Maybe Not. She Did Say There Are Supposed To Be Alot Of Transfers Going Through But That's All She Would Say. And She Has Said Nothing About Losing Her Job Or Her Being Transfered Herself. So Who Knows. We'll Be The Last Ones To Know I Am Sure!

I Did Get Confirmation Of This Closing Today. I Can't Stay On Line, But I Will Share The Info I Got With You Tomorrow.

Take Care

grrrrrrrrrrrrrr somebody tell me something...

Clee, that's exactly what I feared. Heard about the rumors since weeks but they got more sincere and realistic week by week. Hope you have more detailed information to share.

Sigh, guess now I have to decide whether to spend 1000 dollars on yet another travel very soon and have our last hug and kiss for maybe years or to wait and see him next time probably behind plexiglass. Feels like playing russian roulette - just don't know what to go for.

I'm frustrated. :-(

I Would Get The Visit In As Soon As You Can. I Am Just Lost! Everything Coming Out Now And Now This. Plus He's In Seg Again. He Best Get Out Soon. I Need To Get In As Many Visits As I Can Before He Gets Transfered. I Can't Handle The Thought Of Never Being Able To Hug Him Or Even Touch His Hand. Oh My God! I Can't Quit Crying, I Am Such An Emotional Train Wreck This Past Week!

Ok Here's What I Got. My Girl Called Last Night. Said First They Were Told The Beginning Of May, Then The End Of May. Now They Aren't Giving A Date For "security" Purposes. But She May Have Just Told Me That So She Doesn't Get In Trouble. But Everything I've Heard Seems To Be Focused Around May. So That's What I Am Going With. They Are Keeping Stateville Open For "reception". Welcome To Prison. Geez! Then They'll Get Transfered From There. So It Looks Like Every Person Entering The System Gets A Trip To The Ville Now. I Just Can't Handle This. I Know I Am Spoiled Because He Is So Close Now And I Can Visit Often. But If He Moves, I Don't Know If I'll Ever Get To Visit.

Clee, girl, hang in there. I'm quite sure that some of the rumors are created on purpose and meant to make people feel insecure - just like we do feel right now. Perhaps, if it comes to transfers to Thomson, it will turn out not to be that bad like the word that goes today.

I'm trying to think about the positive aspect of a transfer to a "brand new" facility. If you look at the few rooms at Stateville you might have seen - all that filth and dirt... Can you picture what the cellhouses must even look like? Do you remember the smell when you first entered the long hallway in the main building and the impression you got, when you first breathed the malodor of the visiting room with its crumbling walls and the temperatures that are never moderate but either too hot or too cold? I do. Compared to that we had visits in a luxury environment while my husband was still on death row. Let alone the visiting conditions like holding hands for hours, the ability to steal a kiss now and then. Even if non-contacts might turn out to be true - I'm trying to sell myself the idea of my hubby living in a non-rotting and moderately clean environment 24/7, all year long. That takes away a bit of the fear and the frustration.

And if all these rumors turn out to be true - well, I am very confident in our relation and I know we'll make it. Somehow. I saw him last time in the beginning of November after seven long months without a single visit. Just don't allow IDOC to drag you down and keep your head up.

I for my part, will try to get there as soon as I can, which might not be earlier than March. Anyway, no matter where they put him - they will not get the chance to ruin our relation.

Thank You Brena. I Did Point Out In The Letter I Worte Him Today That If He Does Go To Thomson It's At Least New, Clean And Not A Rat Hole Yet. That Would Help With His Cleanliness Issues. I Guess, Like I Said, I Am Just Spoiled. A Couple Visits A Month Is What's It's Been. And Going From That To One Or Two Maybe A Year Is Going To Kick My Butt. And Wherever It Is He Ends Up I Really Hope He Has Access To A Phone Like He Does Now Or Else My Hand Will Be Numb In A Month. :) I Looked To See How Far Thomson Is For Me And It's Still Only Around 150 Miles. Which Isn't Bad And Still Is Pretty Close Compared To What Most People Travel. But It Surley Isn't A 20 Minutes Ride Any Longer. I Still Can Probably Get There Once Every Few Months. But If They Send Him Somewhere Else I Won't Be Able To. The Prisons That He's Able To Go To Are All Pretty Far. It's The Waiting Game I Think That Gets Me Also. I Hate Suprises, I Hate Change, And I Really Hate Waiting. Everything Else In Life I Don't Mind And Deal With Just Fine (ok Maybe Not). I Am Pretty Confident That It's Not A Rumor And This Is What's Going To Happen Because Of Where I Got My Information From. It Would Be Nice If It Turned Out To Be One, But I Don't Think So. Also Lee Said In The Letter I Got Today That He Wants To Get Transfered Out Of There Anyway. So I Guess It's All For The Better. Hopefully To A Cleaner/healthier Environment.

I live here in Joliet and I haven't read anything about any closing. I know when Old Joliet was closing it made the headlines constantly in the neighborhood paper. If I see anything I'll be sure to post it.

Monica,

How's The House Coming Along? I Hope All Is Well And I Hope Nothing Interferes With His Release Date. Take Care!

I just finished doing the grout in the master bath.. OJ keeps telling me to leave it for him to do.. But I already have a honey do list waiting for him LOL Unless he screws up major and losses his good time, nothing can interfere with his release date. Three weeks from right now, he’ll be home!!

I'm glad things are going along as planned Monica!!! =)

As for the closing of Stateville hmmm not really sure how to feel about it.
Keep us posted
Thanks,
patty

My guy told me about a month ago he heard that about 400 guys would get transferred because they needed the space for guys coming from the cook county jail, close to chicago. I want to say that you can't increase a man's security level just because he's being moved. They can't make them have non contact visits becaues of the facility. The guys would riot I think!

In the real world that would be true. But as we've all seen so many times before they do what they want. I would think they would place them in another prison that is equal to thier security level. But if I am not mistaken, most of them have changed to non contact. I really don't know. And if I read correctly Thomson is smaller. so if they do close or move most of the guys from Stateville, they are going to be all over. Wait and see, that's all we can do.

Holley,
Scott says hello. He's off school today. Which means I'll be getting 100 phone calls telling me how bored he is. :)

I thought it was only Pontiac and Tamms that were non-contact. The other two maximum prisons, Stateville and Menard have contact visits, with the exception of those in seg, of course. Pontiac and Tamms both have only isolation inmates, no general population, or I think that's what Pontiac is, so I can understand why visits are no contact.


Rose

I Have No Clue, But I Know With The Sentence He Has Those Are Really The Only Places He Can Go Besides Thomson. Unless They Take Into Consideration His Record Inside And Move Him Somewhere Else. That Would Be Nice. Not Such A High Security Place With A Little More Movement. But We All Wish For That Don't We. Something A Little Better Then What They Have Now.

Wouldn't that be nice but not a hope of that for Tony I'm afraid, not after the email I got from Springfield which said how the warden of Menard couldn't let Tony have too much freedon because he was a danger to both staff and inmates!!!! Needless to say, I replied to that in no uncertain terms. They weren't speaking about him like that and getting away with it, especially as he's innocent of the murder they were referring to.

Rose

I e-mailed them yesterday myself. Let's see if I get any kind of response from them. I can't believe they had the nerve to say that! Oh wait, yes I can.

Clee, I'm sure I missed something here, but what was the topic that you e-mailed IDOC? The closing of the facility? Just curious. ;)

About Thomson once again... I came across a page on the web showing pictures of a visitors group touring the building in 2002. There are some pictures to look at...
The link is http://www.internetni.com/~frstumc/umm/ummtcf.html
What a weird kind of "tourism" ...

No Not The Closing Of Stateville. That Can't Be Avoided If It Happens. About A Few Different Things. Conditions Mainly.

Looks Like Single Person Cells. That Would Be Great! Pretty Lonely Sometimes I Am Sure, But Most Of Them Like To Be Alone Anyway.

If it's only single person cells, that would explain the much lesser capacity. I'm sure my hubby would love to get back to a single cell. He did 17 years in single confinement and it was quite a change for him to share his cell with someone else all of a sudden. I'm pretty sure single occupation makes it also easier for the guys to stay out of trouble. At least I cannot think about a person, I would like to be locked up with in my bathroom for most of the day ;-)

By the way, in his State of State speech on Thursday, Blagojevich didn't mention anything about prison reform or opening of Thomson.
http://ww2.saukvalley.com/news/298011238008176.bsp

The new fiscal budget will be published in March, I think. Guess that will give good hints.

I Must Agree With You There. Actually I Can Think Of A Couple People I Would Love To Be Locked In A Bathroom With All Day. Hahahaha I Didn't Catch Anything On That In His Speech Either. No Suprise. We'll See.

Strange thing is, Thomson is listed as open in the list of facilities. It just says 0 for number of inmates. But I did read that it was to be opened second quarter of 2004, so that would fit with May.

ugh the whole situation is ugh that's all i have to say right now...

patty

What list of facilitities was that, j? On the IDOC site Thomson is still listed as closed with no date set for the opening and the post of Warden is vacant.

Rose

Oh you're right! I should learn to read things like COLONS! I saw it said OPENED but ignored the (:) and following empty space.

j

DOC: No truth to prison rumor

BY PAUL GALE
SVN NEWS REPORTER
Published: Monday, January 26, 2004

There's absolutely no truth to a rumor Stateville Correctional Center will close and prisoners will be shifted to the shuttered Thomson Correctional Center, said Sergio Molina, information officer with the Illinois Department of Corrections.

In a tough re-election fight in the March 16 primary, state Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said there is a rumor circulating in the DOC that the state will close part of Stateville and shift staff and prisoners to Thomson.

"Stateville is an old prison. The state might end up saving money closing it down and moving prisoners and guards," Boland said.

It costs $800,000 a year to maintain the $140 million Thomson prison, to keep it heated and barely running, Boland said.

The DOC will keep part of Stateville open, Boland said, because that's where it processes prisoners.

Joliet used to fight every attempt to close its old prison, but it is trying to change its image of strictly being a prison town, Boland said.

"It would be fabulous if we opened the Thomson prison. We will find out in a month or so if this rumor is true, when the governor gives his budget address," Boland said.

Although Molina said the rumor is false, Boland was quoted in a regional newspaper on Saturday saying opening the Thomson prison now looks "promising."

He added the Thomson prison is a state-of-the-art prison so guards would be much safer there.

State officials say there is not enough money in the budget to open the 1,800-bed Thomson prison. It is the first maximum-security state prison since Joliet was built in 1925.

The Stateville prison has a capacity of 1,506 but reportedly is housing an average daily population of 2,551.

About 700 to 800 people are expected to work at the Thomson prison and there is to be a $25 million annual operating budget once it is operational.

Thomson and Carroll County officials have traveled repeatedly to Springfield to lobby state officials to open the prison

Thanks for sharing brena... where'd you come across that?

Patty

was thomson every open? Why did they build it I wonder? Isn't Tamm's fairly new also? I got a post card back from the governor's office. I emailed about the increase in commissary costs.

what did the postcard say?

rumors do fly. i said in another post the other day that my girl there is back to saying "if" when we talk about it closing or partially closing. She has gotten 3 different memos all stating different things. the only thing she knows for sure is the reception part will always be there even if they close the rest of it or partially close the rest of it.

Patty, I'm always digging the news section in Google. It's a pretty good tool to get the latest press news about anything.

And I have booked the flights to Chicago, so I will be in Stateville the last week of February and first week of March. I have written to the Warden and asked for extended visits but no answer yet. Guess it will take them their usual 3 to 4 weeks processing time. And this time I enclosed a prestamped self addressed return envelope like Rose suggested. Please keep your fingers crossed that it will be approved.
Just four more weeks :)

Brena

Good luck on your extended visits, Brena. If you don't hear back soon it might be worth a phone call to the Warden, sometimes they need a bit iof 'encouragement'. I'm sending my letter off to Menard this weekend, giving me ample time to put the pressure on before my March/April visit. but I must say, I've not had to do that yet with Menard. Having said that there's always a first time.

Rose

Thanks Brena yeah google is helpful I like the name too, just like to say it haha! Do you stay in Joliet when you come to Illinois? Perhaps we can meet for lunch if I can visit Sebastian on one of the days you are here.

Patty

Thank you Rose, and same to you. I've never had problems with the visits at Menard either and they were also quite quick as you said. But in Stateville the clocks are running a bit different. At least they did so far. I'm not saying here that they were not supportive but SLOW. ;)

Patty, sure can we meet. That would be very nice actually, and guess what: when I'm there I have tons of free time available ;) I'll PM you.

Brena

I've just received an email from Alice Kim of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty which reads as follows:

Stateville Prison is scheduled to close in May 2004

Signed: Toni Stith , Advocate

We all know this has already been denied in the press and the CEDP are, in my opinion, generally guilty of jumping on the bandwagon after the event. I suppose only time will tell.

Rose

Rose,

You are right actually you are right TWICE <evil grin> only time will tell. I am praying for all of us that whatever happens we and our loved ones and those that have noone to pray for them will be safe regardless of what is or is not down the road.

Patty

I've forwarded the email I received to the Chicago Tribune to see if they'll look into this. I do know someone who visited Stateville last week and when she asked about this she was told it definitely was closing but they hadn't a clue when. Seems much the same as usual, the left hand doesn't know what the right one's doing!!

Rose

I ran the Stateville rumor by an Associated Press reporter friend of mine and he put in some calls to IDOC and the governor's office. Here is what he says:

Stateville's closing turns out to be a rumor being spread in a Statehouse race. A candidate keeps claiming that at least part of Stateville will close and that prisoners will be shifted to a new prison at Thomson. DOC says no, that there's no money in the budget to start Thomson up.

But then again, when was the last time IDOC told the truth about anything?

jims...

Well the budget is a mess, I wondered about that myself. Then again stranger things have happened so your guess is as good as mine.

Patty

All the press people are being told it's not going to close and, for reasons of my own, I doubt everything that comes from CEDP. I did send them an email stating this has been denied in all the press reports but, as always, it's hit a brick wall with nobody have the courtesy to reply.

Rose

I asked a parole agent in cook county and he said there is no way in hell because cook county is the largest county and that is where they take their people. I dont believe anything anyone in IDOC says either so I guess its wait & see.

The thing is... IDOC will NOT release any information... to family OR to the press... they see having their plans revealed as a security threat... it's not uncommon at all for even the HIGHER UPS that would be directly AFFECTED by such plans to be kept in the dark until the last second!

My guy originally told me in Dec he was told inmates were being moved to make room for people from cook county. Perhaps they will just keep part open for that?

I saw my hubby today he told me that they are just making room for Stateteville R&C that they closed One of the seg houses as fa as thompson I have bben ASSURED they cannot afford to open it due to the budget!

Stateville R & C is the only part, so the rumour says, that will remain open. This is because it's on;ly 2 years old. But, if Stateville was to be closed because it's in need of repairs etc. what does that say about Menard, which is nearly 50 years older!!!

Rose

my guy's best friend wrote me, said they don't want stateville closed, for reasons of family visiting. He was thinking we could do something and I'm sure we cannot!

The latest runour is that Stateville won't be closing but that two other prisons will, and don't ask which because I haven't the foggiest.

Rose

I Guess We'll Know For Sure, When And If Anything Closes. It's The Darn Waiting Thing Again!

It might be in the Governor's budget speech on 18th February. You'll all have to post it here so that I'll know about it because I won't get that info over here.

You guys are going to drive yourself crazy with all these rumors. I have been with the IDOC for 7 years and the rumors keep going each and everyday. Now, they closed Joliet Prison to cut back on expences. They will not be closing Stateville, because of the fact it will cost to much money to move, and there is not place to put all the inmates at Stateville. Stateville is the recieving center for the IDOC that is why they are closing certain sections to make those area ready for inmates coming out of cook county and other counties to be processed into the main IDOC. Thompson was built to hold Lifer's, they wanted to have a specific place for them. But when Ryan decided to release those men off of Death Row that put more inmates into population. Please don't make yourself sick with worrying about all these rumors. Now Menard is in need of repairs but they will do at Stateville as they did at Menard they will work around the inmates and shuffle them about. But as you say we will see

So They Are Closing Parts Of It? Is That What You Arte Saying? We Have Nothing To Do But Worry. Because We Hear All Kinds Of Things And Never Know The Truth Until We Show Up For A Visit And They Are Gone. Unfortunatly.

No babes, I am not saying not to worry, just don't make yourself sick about it. Ok just like when they closed Joliet, my husband called me and told me they picked up to be transfered to Pinckneyville, because they needed to make room for those that need to be in a Max like Stateveille or Menard. And what I mean by that is my husband had less then 20 years left on his sentence so when you qualify for that you can move to the next level. Now if they are going to close certain sections they will probably move those that qualify for 20 or less placements at high medium security prisons. They will be given the opportunity for call if they are being moved to another prison. They do give them that opportunity.

With all due respect Tony's Girl, I don't think any of us are making ourselves sick about this. Yes, we are concerned but we ALL know these are rumours, and we know just where the rumours are coming from, members of staff, not inmates. No, as I said, they won't be closing Stateville, but the reason is because of it's close proximity to Chicago. It's needed and there's nowhere else to put people. Thomson is nowhere big enough and it's a purpose built joint, to take the most violent of all high security inmates. Listen to your Governor's speech and see what he says, that will end all speculation.

Rose

I Know I Will Be Listening For Sure. I Usually Do Anyway. Ugh!

Ahem, well I'm not sick either but it never hurts to stay informed rumor or no rumor let nothing go unsaid I say...

Patty

Tonygirl, first time that I'm hearing about guys given the opportunity to call ahead when they are transferred. Are you really sure? My man couldn't even call his lawyer when he got moved (three times in two years). She found out at the gatehouse once when she showed up for a scheduled attorney visit ...

They certainly don't allow guys at Menard to call out a before transfer. What would be the point of that? The whole thing has to be secret so they can't arrange an escape en route. When they were moving all the guys off the Row we didn't know where our men were, not for weeks. As Brena said, not even the attorneys are informed until the guy can get hold of a phone once he's been moved. And getting to a phone isn't easy either, for some. Perhaps, Tonygirl, you are referring to other than maximum security facilities!!


Rose

Lee's Been Transfered 2 Times. He Never Was Able To Call And Let Me Know.

I have had the opportunity everytime my husband was transfered to be called by him, when he went to Pinckneyville, he called my mother in law in Puerto Rico and told her to call me and inform me, when he got transfered to Danville, he called me that Monday and was transfered that Thursday. Yes, there is the security risk, but if they know where they are going they can tell you, just not what day they are being transferd out or what time.

At max's yes. It may have changed just recently and it may be different with the Death Row inmates that they let off Death Row. That can be different but they were either going to send them to Menard, Stateville or Pontiac or even Tamms. Tony has been in the system for 13 years and has been in no serious trouble. He keeps a open relationship with his counselors where ever he has been so maybe it could be that and also it could be because I did have health issues since we have been together that the IDOC have the medical reports on and especially after the September 11th incident when I lost my sister and a letter was sent to IDOC about it they could have been more cooperative in keeping him informed on where he was going to let me know because the reason he was transfered to Danville was letters I wrote to our congressmen and Senator Dirk asking for a hardship transfer.

maybe it has to do with their security level. C was able to call two days before he got moved to centralia.