IDOC Director Says Vandalia Prison Not Closing

(VANDALIA MAYOR RICKY GOTTMAN)

Illinois Department of Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys says that Vandalia Correctional Center is not closing, nor was it being considered for closure.

(DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR ROB JEFFREYS)

In a memo released Wednesday to Vandalia Mayor Ricky Gottman and others, Jeffreys said he wrote to "dispel some false information that is being spread throughout the state and specifically at Vandalia Correctional Center."

Here's the text of Jeffreys' memo:

"I want to dispel some false information that is being spread throughout the state and specifically at Vandalia Correctional Center. Vandalia Correctional Center is NOT closing nor was it being considered for closure.

The document that was distributed titled 'Consolidation/Conversion Overview' dated February 2022, is an extension of the previously shared May 2021 plan. As we discussed in the May 2021 plan, as an agency we must ensure we are safely and efficiently operating our facilities and effectively managing the population. The proposed consolidation plan at Vandalia Correctional Center wold allow the Department to efficiently operate the facility and better serve the population by moving the staff and population to the newer units on the grounds of Vandalia. The plan WOULD NOT have resulted in layoffs or geographical transfers. All employees at Vandalia would continue working at Vandalia. There were also NO plans to demolish any buildings at Vandalia; instead we were exploring alternative uses for some of the units that would have been consolidated within the facility.

Today, the population in the male division (statewide) is 27,823 and with recent sentencing reforms, it is expected this number will remain low. Transfers into Vandalia have slowed down just as they have at some of our other minimum-security facilities. When the Consolidation/Conversion overview was shared on 2-10-22 Vandalia's population was 525 and as of today the population is 458. We also have low populations at some of our other minimum level facilities such as Robinson-622, Vienna-541, East Moline-487 and Southwestern-285.

At this time, we have decided to hold off on the consolidation/conversion at Vandalia. If it is decided in the future to revisit this plan, we will notify AFSCME Council 31 and continue discussions."

Mayor Gottman said in response to the memo, "In a phone meeting with the Governor's Office and representatives of IDOC last Thursday, July 7, I felt good about where this matter was heading." Gottman also stated, "I have always worked for the betterment of our great city and its residents and employees. It has never been a political matter in any way when it comes to my office. Supporting and maintaining the Vandalia Correctional Center is not a political matter; it is a community matter."