The Jacksonville Correctional Center is located on the eastern edge of the city of Jacksonville. Temporary quarters were opened on the grounds of the Jacksonville Developmental Center with the first offenders arriving Jan. 23, 1984. Construction of the present facility began in February 1984 and was completed that same year in September. With the transfer of offenders in the temporary quarters and 60 new offenders, the facility reached 501 on Nov. 15, 1984. Double bunking in the housing units began in the early 1990s.

The Greene County Impact Incarceration Program facility opened in March 1993 and is located between the cities of Roodhouse and White Hall. The number of offenders was decreased through graduations and lack of intakes until the population was non-existent at which time the facility closed Sept. 30, 2002. Approximately 5,000 graduates have successfully completed this program during the almost 10 years that this facility was operational.

The Pittsfield Work Camp opened in September 1996 and houses 400 offenders who must meet stringent criteria to be housed at that facility. The work crew program at Pittsfield has continued to grow due to the closing of Greene County and lack of eligible offenders at Jacksonville to comprise work crews. However, with careful planning and scheduling adjustments, all requests for work crews were granted. Staff and offenders from Pittsfield contributed more than 108,000 hours of community service to churches, schools, municipalities and other not-for-profit groups.

Highlights

The fiscal audit of all business office operations performed by the Office of the Auditor General revealed no major or minor audit findings for the facility for a two-year period.

Special emphasis has been placed on reducing contraband into the facilities with an increase in vehicle searches and daily shakedowns of offender living areas. Vehicle searches are conducted daily on each shift to deter introduction of dangerous or prohibited items. During this fiscal year, more than 6,000 vehicles were searched prior to entering the grounds at Jacksonville and Pittsfield. Additionally, more than 25,000 inmate property searches were conducted.

During this year, Clinical Services staff reviewed approximately 1,000 offender records for potential placement in adult transition center programs. Two-thirds of those submissions were a result of the monthly list provided by the Transfer Coordinator's Office. Staff was able to achieve 100 percent compliance with timely submissions for all 600 offenders whose packets were requested. The remainder of the submissions were processed at the request of inmates seeking transfer.

Reducing Recidivism

Several different programs are offered to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to prevent the inmate's return to incarceration and allow successful re-entry into the community. Classes are taught on substance abuse prevention, resume writing and job interviews as well as five different vocational programs. Offenders can enroll in classes and receive certificates in construction trades, computer technology, horticulture and commercial custodian.

Positive parenting classes are offered to offenders who would benefit from guidance in this area. Life skills classes are also made available to prepare offenders for issues that might occur once they are released and also refers them to life skills centers in their communities where they can continue to receive assistance.

Patient education on becoming more responsible for their own medical care is provided by medical staff as well as information on medical services available to them in their community, and whenever possible, specific to their particular medical condition.

Counseling staff ensures that parolees have safe, appropriate and viable parole sites to return to in the community. Efforts are made to connect them with family or close friends whenever possible or treatment programs if that is the best alternative. Staff also works closely with the Placement Resource Unit to ensure that homeless parolees have some type of shelter or halfway house upon release.

Many offenders assigned to both the main facility and work camp have job assignments that teach them good work ethics as far as reporting to work on time and completing specific job assignments.

Security Initiatives

A committee comprised of staff from several different work areas tours the facilities monthly to check for potential weapon-making material and other contraband. Safety and health committee members also make routine inspections to prevent dangerous situations.

A major renovation project was undertaken to eliminate metal springs from the offender beds in the housing units. These springs are being replaced with solid metal plates.

Orientation meetings with supervisors and managers of work sites where work crews are assigned are held on a routine basis to instruct the members of the public about the facility's security procedures. This helps to eliminate many potential issues prior to the offenders arriving on the scene of a community work project.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Compliance

All requests for spending have been carefully reviewed. In addition, staff has continually been reminded of the need to conserve in all areas. All required travel, overtime and temporary assignments are reviewed daily to ensure only absolutely necessary expenses are incurred.

Indicator Reports

An area of significance is the lack of positive offender drug tests. During FY 2003, 782 tests were administered with zero positive results. This improvement can be contributed to heightened security procedures and overall commitment of staff to ensure drugs are not introduced into the facilities.

Offender grievances during this fiscal year were 33 percent less than last fiscal year. During FY 2003, 390 were filed while in FY 2002, 580 were filed. In addition, the number of major disciplinary reports written during FY 2003 was reduced 26 percent from the previous fiscal year with 936 tickets being written, down from the 1,271 written in FY 2002. The reduction in both of these areas can be attributed to the on-going training of staff as well as orientation of offenders to rules and regulations.

Many of the offenders housed at Jacksonville and Pittsfield are enrolled in educational programs. During this fiscal year, 149 offenders completed the Adult Basic Education program, 169 received their GED certificate and 85 offenders were awarded college certificates. In addition, 149 successfully completed the drug treatment program.

New Technology and Automated Enhancements

All available updates of equipment and programs were installed on computers. A program to eliminate old Telex computers was implemented and will be completed in a timely manner.

Installation of fiber-optic cable to the housing units at Pittsfield Work Camp allows counselors to access necessary information via the computer.

Conclusion

Employees at the facilities have contributed many hours of volunteer time to various local charities and civic groups. For many years, Jacksonville Correctional Center employees have led the Illinois Department of Corrections in the amount of money given to the SECA campaign. Employees also contributed $1,075 to the local Muscular Dystrophy Association campaign.

The competency-based audit process has proven to be a successful tool in ensuring staff is familiar with all practices and procedures. During this fiscal year, 609 audits were performed resulting in a compliance rate of 87 percent, an 8 percent improvement over FY 2002. This can be attributed to the continuing efforts of all staff to learn new procedures as well as maintain current practices.