Logan Correctional Center

Logan Correctional Center is a Level 4, medium-security adult male institution located in Lincoln, 30 miles north of Springfield. The prison occupies approximately 138 acres and was formerly the annex portion of the Lincoln Developmental Center of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. On Dec. 1, 1977, the department acquired the annex and the first contingent of male inmates was received on Jan. 11, 1978. The institution is comprised of 13 separate general population living units, including one X-design unit that houses 448 inmates.

Highlights

Two of the center's accomplishments during the past fiscal year were especially significant because they improved services, involved new technology and saved money.

A sewage reduction meter was installed at the power plant to more accurately measure Logan Correctional Center's water usage. The sewer bill has been reduced by approximately $4,500 per month.

Also, during this past year, the television system shared with Lincoln Correctional Center was changed from a cable system to a satellite system. This technology update has realized a combined savings of approximately $3,000 per month.

Logan Correctional Center was also able to renovate the inmate commissary area. Staff working in this area along with the Maintenance Department designed a new layout, which has increased efficiency enabling the center to return offenders to their job or school assignment quicker.

Reducing Recidivism

School District 428, MacMurray College and the recent addition of Richland Community College have created educational opportunities for Logan Correctional Center's offenders to participate in Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED, Special Education, Cooperative Work Training (CWT) and college-level academic classes as well as obtain vocational certificates. Studies have shown that offenders participating in programs such as these have a better chance of not returning to the correctional system. Currently the recidivism rate for offenders who obtain a degree is approximately 9 percent.

Security Initiatives

Logan Correctional Center's selection for participation in Technology Systems International's pilot inmate tracking system will provide the facility with another tool to increase the overall security of its offenders and staff.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Compliance

Logan Correctional Center reduced expenditures by more than 6 percent in FY 2003, which includes savings in almost all areas. Even with significant staff reduction due to early retirement, the facility managed to stay within 0.3 percent of the overtime budget. Logan Correctional Center will continue its efforts to do more with less.

Indicator Reports

During FY 2003, MacMurray College awarded 75 vocational certificates, double the number awarded the previous year. There are currently 350 offenders involved in vocational classes with approximately 3,400 credit hours being awarded. Several of the vocational classes completed projects that were donated to the community's Habitat for Humanities Program, which helped raise more than $7,000 for this organization.

Additionally, in March 2003, Richland Community College began offering college-level academic courses at the facility. In partnership with MacMurray College and School District 428, Richland was able to provide classes to 58 students from March through June of FY 2003. Additional job assignments and opportunities for earned good conduct credits were realized by the addition of this new college program.

During FY 2003, School District 428 at Logan Correctional Center continued its offering of ABE, GED, Special Education and CWT classes throughout the day and evening. Approximately 350 students are enrolled in these educational programs. In FY 2003, 80 students received their GED certificates at a success rate of 8.5 percent.

New Technology and Automated Enhancements

Logan Correctional Center was selected as a pilot program for an offender monitoring system. Utilizing a federally funded grant, Technology Systems International (TSI) based in Phoenix, Ariz., began installing monitors throughout the facility, which were linked to a control computer system. All inmates have been fitted with a "watch-sized" wrist monitor and staff will soon be issued a "pager-like" monitor. When fully operational, this system will track and record each inmate's movement 24 hours a day, seven days a week providing yet another tool to increase the overall safety and security of the facility.

Conclusion

Logan Correctional Center considers its most noteworthy advancement in FY 2003 to be the current construction of a new Health Care Unit and Dietary Building. The construction of these two new buildings helps to demonstrate the center's commitment to provide more efficient, better-equipped facilities to help manage the ever-increasing population as well as to provide a safer, more pleasant environment for staff to perform its duties. These structures will also add to the center's efficiency. Logan will now offer infirmary care services, thus assisting in decreasing the amount of overtime previously expended by security staff required to monitor inmates admitted to area community hospitals.