Counties Saddled w/Expense While State Declines to Receive Inmates in Prisons

Another fallout of the coronavirus disease pandemic is that the State of Illinois is not accepting inmates who've been sentenced to prison.

The issue was a topic of discussion at Thursday night's Jasper County Board meeting.

Board members learned that the Illinois Department of Corrections is refusing prisoners. The situation has existed since March 26. Jasper County officials heard that the situation is causing inmate housing problems and added housing expense for counties across the state. 

Jasper County currently has four subjects awaiting transfer to the State.

Effingham County Sheriff Dave Mahon agrees that the matter is a problem. Mahon said Effingham County has six inmates ready to go to prison, while four others are in the county jail waiting to try and get state mental health treatment. The sheriff calls the situation a "huge burden on counties statewide."

The Illinois Sheriffs Association has filed suit against Governor J.B. Pritzker and the IDOC prison intake wardens regarding the situation.