John Howard Association of Illinois

Summary: Better.

On January 11, 2011 a group of John Howard Association staff and volunteers toured Pontiac Correctional Center, a maximum security men’s prison located 100 miles south and west of Chicago.

Pontiac is the state’s oldest prison, dating to 1871. Pontiac’s population is diverse. It includes inmates held in disciplinary segregation, protective custody, Death Row and individuals subject to deportation. An adjacent, relatively modern, prison houses medium security inmates. This report focuses on the maximum security features of the prison, especially as they relate to inmates held in disciplinary segregation.

Read the full report here. (PDF)