Stateville Correctional Center

The Stateville Correctional Center is a maximum-security facility that houses approximately 2,800 male felons and employs nearly 1,300 employees. It is a Level 1 facility, the highest of eight security level designations. The facility also operates a Minimum-Security Unit, commonly referred to as the Stateville Farm. Inmates confined to this status provide work crews for the main institution when a lockdown is implemented and other outside details such as mowing grass and collecting litter along roads. The Joliet Complex, formerly the Joliet Correctional Center, remains the site for northern reception and classification (R&C) intake processing. The Joliet Complex is also under the supervision of the warden.

Stateville was opened in 1925 with a design capacity of 1,506. The institution processes approximately 2,200 inmates monthly through the R&C center. There are 11 housing units and virtually 100 percent of the general population and segregation status inmates are double celled. The Minimum-Security Unit dormitory was opened in 1930 and relocated to the new Northern R&C Center (NRC) in 2003. The new state-of-the-art R&C will have the capacity to hold 2,200 inmates, actually doubling the size of the old reception center at the former Joliet Correctional Center. The new facility also nearly doubles the size of the current bed space for the Minimum-Security Unit.

The new R&C Center and Stateville proper is located three miles north of Joliet and sits on approximately 2,264 acres of land with 64 acres surrounded by a 33-foot concrete perimeter with 10 wall towers. Two housing units within the concrete exterior are considered historical sites, one being noted as the longest cell house in the world. The panopticon cell house, commonly referred to as the round house, houses mainly R&C inmates and those in writ status with an armed tower in the center. A philosopher named Jeremy Bentham designed this architectural structure and it is said to be one of the only remaining circular-style cell houses still in use in the U.S.

Highlights

The construction for the new R&C Center was finalized. Budget constraints have created obstacles for initiating operations in this new facility.

The main water lines throughout the Stateville grounds are being upgraded. The upgrade in the system will increase the pressure required to flush through the entire system resulting in lower concentrations of radium. Although a natural amount of radium is found in the drinking water, this combined effort will minimize the radium levels to acceptable health standards.

Other maintenance issues include replacing the 480 three-phase electrical panel service in E and D house. This new system will assist with the lighting and associated equipment in the quarter houses and provide maximum service.

Unit F is receiving a facelift. New doors are being placed on all the cells. To date, this Capital Development Board project is nearly two-thirds complete.

Reducing Recidivism

Inmates preparing to parole or discharge from the facility are required to attend the Pre-Start program. This two-week class provides intense learning skills for integration back into the community. These skills include substance abuse awareness. Other skills the inmates are taught in this class are primarily geared toward education and self-motivation for survival in the free community and the advantages of not becoming a repeat offender.

Additionally, a House of Healing Program is offered to inmates ready for release by the chaplaincy staff. Although voluntary, the class is essentially a focus on self-evaluation with a religious overtone that enables inmates to identify with the reality of free-world living and methods and techniques for establishing morale and positive ethics.

Security Initiatives

A camera upgrade was made to the surveillance system allowing continuous observation of inmate living areas as well as in locations where large numbers of inmates congregate such as yards, gymnasium and dining areas. The intimidation factor of constant supervision through video equipment helps deter inmates from negative behavior and in the identification of those involved in unusual incidents. The camera upgrade has intensified security operations and has proven effective in command and control.

Vehicle search operations continue to be conducted on the front drive of the facility in an effort to eliminate trafficking of contraband to inmates as well as send a positive message to all employees, civilians, vendors and other visitors that possession of contraband on state property will not be tolerated. Coordinating efforts with the Illinois State Police, Will County Sheriff's Department and other surrounding K-9 support enable this effort to be portrayed as a professional operation. The quality of efforts displayed by everyone involved is reflective of employees who configure pride and integrity in the performance of their duties and provide a working example for comrades setting a high standard of excellence.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Compliance

The facility conducted a steam trap survey in May 2003 that concluded replacing 38 steam traps that were malfunctioning estimating a savings of approximately $36,000 a year in heating costs. The replacement project is nearly halfway complete. A steam trap can function for up to 15 years and the savings will compound year after year.

More than 1,500 feet of worn out 1 1Ú4 inch condensate pipes have been replaced in the quarter houses. Four new Modine unit heaters and the reinstallation of eight existing units that were causing a tripping hazard on the catwalk have also been completed. Four steam coils were replaced in the two main fan units along with 16 new steam traps. Maintenance staff repaired the rusted and damaged sheet metal on the fan units and replaced more than 60 windows. This project was necessary, costly and time consuming, however, these repairs will last for years and will defray future energy and maintenance costs.

Also, the maintenance staff has replaced the condensate pump in I House and is presently replacing 200 plus feet of condensate return piping in the library. These repairs save energy and money required to process water and chemically treat the condensate.

Indicator Reports

The Maximum-Security Indicator Report comprised of institutional statistics continues to serve as an effective tool providing a blueprint for areas of concern that may need special attention. Additionally, the reported information also is indicative of progress made in many areas by a fluctuation in numbers. Administrative staff focus intently on the reported statistics and provide necessary interaction to maintain an operational balance.

New Technology and Automated Enhancements

Currently the Stateville Intelligence Unit is removing the former telephone monitoring system that operated from audiotaping and is replacing the system with double-sided DVD recorders. The former tape system had a few problems that have been eliminated with the DVD system. Tapes would occasionally get tangled and ruined by the recording device, which in turn destroyed vital information and evidence that may have been needed at a later date. The tapes would only record on one side requiring the recording device to be changed more frequently as compared to the DVD, which collects data on both sides allowing an increase in the total length of recording on a single item. The DVD has also made it possible to reduce the inventory of stored telephone information.

Implementation and refinement of the Automated Reception and Classification System (ARCS) is used for the NRC processing. Mental health professionals, counselors, intelligence staff, substance abuse screeners and others use the system for recording collected data. The ARCS program was integrated with the Offender Tracking System to provide a crossover linkage of information to ARCS screeners preventing conflicting information.

Psychological testing continues to manifest by use of the Millon Clinical Multitaxial Inventory-Third Edition (MCMI-III) and the GAMA test. This provides a more accurate illustration of mental health needs for incoming inmates.

Conclusion

The multi-functions of the Stateville operation make this facility unique from housing the most dangerous felons in the state to transporting inmates to designated locations after completion of the classification process. The institution has been faced with many transitional changes over the past couple of years including integrating the R&C process into the maximum-security operations and assuming additional responsibilities in the upkeep of nearby closed facilities.

Administrative staff at the Stateville Correctional Center continues to explore innovative measures for increased productivity as well as carry on a positive work ethic for all staff. The anticipation of opening the new state-of-the-art R&C Center remains a common focus, as this will bring new and improved procedures for performing everyday tasks.