Lawmakers tour Pontiac prison

Posted on April 3, 2017
State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) led a group of lawmakers in Monday’s regular tour of the Pontiac Correctional Center. (Photo Cynthia Grau/WJEZ)

By Greg Halbleib

PONTIAC – Lawmakers from around the state have viewed first-hand conditions for inmates and guards at the Pontiac Correctional Center.

Monday’s tour was led by State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), who was looking forward to updates on expanded services.

“There has been some investment in the Pontiac facility related to mental health services that are the result of some lawsuits,” Barickman said. “I’m interested in seeing the progress that’s been made on that. That was a work in progress two years ago.”

Barickman also said he would use the regular tour of the Pontiac Correctional Center to gauge the morale of its guards.

“They’re doing a tough job,” Barickman said before the tour. “Obviously, they’re not immune to politics in that we don’t have a budget to the fact that there’s been a lot of opinions on union legislation that I’m sure some of the guards will voice some of their opinions as we go through.”

The tour is conducted every two years.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…