Grundy Reporter

AFSCME members employed in state prisons organized informational pickets across Illinois to highlight safety concerns affecting correctional staff and residents at several Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities. The protests aimed to draw attention to the increasing risks within these institutions.

State Senator Sue Rezin, representing Morris, addressed the issue by sending a letter to IDOC. She also released a statement regarding recent exposure incidents, urging for immediate measures to ensure the safety of both correctional officers and inmates.

"In recent weeks, we have seen far too many reports of potential exposures to harmful substances for this Administration to continue to sit by and do nothing to protect its staff and residents," stated Senator Rezin. "It is time for Department officials to take these incidents seriously and implement meaningful protocols to protect the well-being of their staff and individuals within the state’s care. Until those protocols are fully in place, I stand with those who believe that the processing of nonlegal mail should be temporarily suspended."

The call for action comes amid growing concerns about the handling of potentially dangerous situations in state correctional facilities.