HR0233 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0233 LRB099 10638 MST 32038 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Tamms Correctional Center opened in 1995 in Tamms, Alexander County as a 200-bed minimum-security prison; in 1998, it expanded, adding a 500-bed super-maximum-security facility, designed to hold the most dangerous and violent male prisoners in the State; and

WHEREAS, The Tamms Correctional Center was in operation as a super-maximum-security prison from 1998 until its closure in January of 2013; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the opening of the Tamms Correctional Center, dangerous and violent inmates could strengthen their power and still run criminal organizations from prison through prison gangs and networks across the State correctional system; and

WHEREAS, Some of the most violent and disruptive inmates would commit transgressions against correctional staff until it became severe enough for the inmate to be transferred to a new correctional facility; once at the new facility these transgressions would continue forcing the new correctional facility to again transfer the inmate; and

WHEREAS, The continued disruptive actions by an inmate in order to be repeatedly transferred to new facilities became known as "riding the correctional circuit"; inmates would do this in an attempt to eventually be transferred to the facility that they desired in order to strengthen their power within prison gangs and increase their network; and

WHEREAS, The opening of the Tamms Correctional Center helped put an end to prisoners riding the correctional circuit; after the opening, when inmates would continue to lash out against correctional officers and other inmates after being transferred, they would then be sent to Tamms until the violent behavior ceased; and

WHEREAS, The opening of the Tamms Correctional Center also helped increase safety at all correctional centers across the State because the most violent and disruptive inmates were isolated; this helped to reduce major incidents at prisons, reduce the number of lockdowns, and greatly improve the safety of the staff working at the correctional centers; and

WHEREAS, Following the closure of the Tamms Correctional Center in January of 2013, the inmates were transferred to maximum security prisons; this put a strain on the already overly crowded State correctional system; with the maximum-security prisons taking in more inmates, many of their existing inmates were then transferred to lower-security facilities; this trend rippled through the State system; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the State correctional system holds around 49,000 inmates, however the facilities that are open are designed to hold around 32,000 inmates; with the State's prisons being so drastically over crowded, staff and inmate safety has again become a major cause of concern; and

WHEREAS, The current levels of inmates in the overly crowded State correctional system has caused major concern for the safety of staff working in the prisons; at Pickneyville Correctional Center on September 25, 2013, inmate Rodolfo Rosas attacked 3 male guards and one female guard; they were taken to an area hospital and treated for various injuries, including a broken nose; and

WHEREAS, Overcrowded correctional facilities are not just a safety problem for staff but also create a dangerous atmosphere for other inmates; since the closure of the Tamms Correctional Center, other facilities having to deal with the over-population issue have resorted to moving hundreds of inmates into a gymnasium as cells have become too crowded; and

WHEREAS, Incidents of violent fights between inmates have increased since the closure of the Tamms Correctional Center because the current correctional system is having difficulty handling the over-populated prisons; and

WHEREAS, If the State of Illinois would reopen the Tamms Correctional Center it could help increase safety inside the State's correctional centers for both the staff and inmates; the reopening of Tamms would also greatly help to reduce the strain over the State's over-populated correctional centers; and

WHEREAS, The Tamms Correctional Center should be reopened in order to ensure the best outcomes for inmates and staff in helping to keep people safe and in helping aid in rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, An adult administrative segregation unit can help to separate gang activity and gang leaders and help to deter future violent and dangerous behavior from inmates; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Governor Rauner to reopen the Tamms Correctional Center as a new adult administrative segregation unit, to help control the over-crowding in the State's correction system and to ensure the safety of correctional staff and inmates; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to Governor Rauner and the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections.