John Howard Association of Illinois

Summary: A prison with problems, looking for solutions.

On July 27, 2010, four representatives of the John Howard Association conducted a monitoring tour of Pinckneyville Correctional Center. Pinckneyville is a medium security prison with more than 2,200 male inmates.

The JHA representatives found significant problems in medical staffing, kitchen sanitation, library services, educational programs and inmate housing. In general, prison management appears to be attempting to address the problems.

Some of the problems noted in this report can be resolved by Pinckneyville management. Others may require intervention by senior management of the Illinois Department of Corrections. A problem nearly universal in Illinois prisons – too many inmates in too little space – can be resolved only at the highest levels of state government.

Read JHA’s observations and recommendations in the report (PDF).