HR1172 LRB093 23139 HSS 53109 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Correctional officers perform a vital function
3 for the State of Illinois by risking their health and safety to
4 maintain order and security within correctional facilities
5 where offenders have been removed from the public; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The inherent conditions of correctional
7 facilities can cause great stress and fatigue for officers and
8 their families; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Stress and fatigue can be a particular problem
10 when too few correctional officers are employed to maintain
11 order and security within correctional facilities; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Four percent cuts to the budget of the Department
13 of Corrections are necessary to create a balanced State budget
14 for Fiscal Year 2005; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The Department of Corrections has made strides to
16 increase the number of front line security at its facilities,
17 as it employed 9,393 security staff at the end of Fiscal Year
18 2003 but 9,661 at the end of Fiscal Year 2004; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
21 urge the Governor and the Director of Corrections to take all
22 actions necessary to keep Fiscal Year 2005 operations on budget
23 without decreasing front line security staff who must interact
24 with inmates and maintain security and order within Illinois
25 correctional facilities; and be it further
 
26     RESOLVED, That we urge the Department of Corrections to
27 explore all options available that will allow it to increase in
28 future fiscal years, just as in Fiscal Year 2004, the number of
29 front line correctional officers at Illinois correctional

 

 

HR1172 - 2 - LRB093 23139 HSS 53109 r

1 facilities to contribute to a safer environment for officers
2 and inmates alike and to enhance piece of mind for the families
3 of Illinois correctional officers who allow their loved ones to
4 serve the State at the Department of Corrections; and be it
5 further
 
6     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to
7 the Governor and the Director of Corrections.