Future of Vandalia, Pontiac Prisons Being Discussed

Conversations are underway between the Illinois Department of Corrections and state lawmakers about the status and future of the Vandalia and Pontiac Correctional Centers.

Several Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Governor Pritzker and DOC Director Rob Jeffreys after both facilities transferred a significant number of inmates to other facilities.

Under a proposed plan, the prison in Pontiac would close the medium security unit and lower their inmate count by almost 1,000.

The proposed plan also lowers the count of prisoners at the Vandalia prison  from a little over 1,000 to 401.

The letter, which was signed by local State Representative Blaine Wilhour, read "several of our questions were not answered, and several of the answers you have provided for us created further concerns and questions."

The legislators have asked Jeffreys to meet with them to discuss the two facilities.