Closing Logan Correctional Center would add to overcrowding

(Originally posted Thursday afternoon)

[September 09, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to close a medium-security prison could mean a dramatic boost in population for other prisons that are already overcrowded.

Quinn said Thursday that he wants to close the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln. Quinn said budget cuts made by lawmakers leave him no choice but to close the prison and six other state institutions across Illinois.

If he succeeds, Logan's 1,970 prisoners would have to be transferred elsewhere.

The state's medium-security and high-minimum-security prisons already house 74 percent more inmates than they were designed for.

Taking Logan out of the picture would boost that to 90 percent above capacity -- 23,000 people living in prisons meant for 12,000.

[Associated Press]

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