Illinois prisons to publish annual data on contraband, safety and overdoses

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A new law requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to publish annual data on contraband, substance abuse treatment, overdoses and medical emergencies inside state prisons.

Supporters say the measure will bring long-overdue transparency to a system often criticized for secrecy.

John Howard Association Executive Director Jennifer Vollen-Katz addressed concerns that the data might be used to unfairly target certain prisons or shift resources unevenly between facilities.

“I think if the data suggests that particular facilities are struggling more than others to keep contraband out, that is really important information to have,” said Vollen-Katz. “I wouldn’t consider that to fall into a category labeled unfairly targeted. What it means is those facilities would need whatever resources are available to stop contraband from coming in and to deal with the repercussions of it being inside their prisons.”

State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, who supported Senate Bill 2201, dismissed concerns that releasing the data could demoralize corrections staff or prompt transfers.

“Nobody wants the data more than the staff. The data is only going to highlight what corrections officers are already telling us. Transparency is not something our officers are scared of,” he said, adding that leadership changes at IDOC are needed to improve morale and safety. “The number one thing you can do to fix morale is get someone in that position who knows what they’re doing, who is honest and who will use transparency and data to make good decisions.”

Latoya Hughes was appointed as the acting director of the IDOC in April 2023.

One major point of contention inside the prison system has been how contraband enters facilities. Some correctional officers have claimed drugs are being smuggled in through letters soaked in chemicals, leading to calls for scanned mail systems that block original correspondence.

Vollen-Katz said there is little evidence to support that approach.

“There were claims from correctional officers that illegal drug use was rising in the prisons, and we don’t dispute that. On our monitoring visits, we saw evidence, the smells, the smoke-filled living units. But we had no data to back it up,” she said. “Staff reported illnesses and overdoses, and we also heard of incarcerated individuals needing medical attention. Without data, it’s impossible to know the scope of the problem, whether it’s increasing, or even to track it in real time.”

Plummer emphasized that while mail can be a factor, the legislation is intended to provide a complete picture.

“What’s important is the holistic picture of what’s happening at the prisons,” Plummer said. “There is not an administration in Illinois history that has been less transparent or played as many games with data as the Pritzker administration, and we have seen serious injuries and deaths because they’re not willing to make the common-sense reforms other states are making.”

Plummer emphasized that the law will curb political maneuvering around prison issues.

“The citizens of Illinois deserve transparency and access to data. With that information, good public policy will follow,” said Plummer. “It will be much harder for the Pritzker administration or their legislative allies to play politics when the data clearly shows that Illinois prisons are more dangerous for both inmates and corrections officers than almost any other prison system in the country, with staff assaults at record levels.”