Lake County Gazette

Sen. Sally Turner announced, "The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) has officially announced the date and location for the public meeting on the proposed closure of Logan Correctional Center." Turner, who was re-elected to the Senate in 2022, stated, "The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 13 at 5 p.m. at Lincoln Junior High School."

"The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) has officially announced the date and locatiaon for the public meeting on the proposed closure of Logan Correctional Center," said Sally Jo Turner, State Senator, according to Facebook.

In her Facebook post, Sen. Turner shared a memo from the CGFA regarding the meeting. The memorandum dated May 30 stated, "There will be two meetings of the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability related to closure of state facilities. The purpose of the hearings will be to further discuss the proposed facility closures of the Stateville Correctional Center and Logan Correctional Center. The Illinois Department of Corrections will be on hand to provide information to the Commission and an opportunity will be given for local stakeholders to offer testimony."

Screenshot of Sen. Sally Turner's May 30 Facebook post | State Senator Sally Turner's Facebook page

According to a report from MSN, the commission is not expected to make any recommendations on the two facilities and their proposed closures until mid-month. The report also indicated that the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) has nearly $80 million allocated in the upcoming fiscal year budget for Logan Correctional Center.

The plan for Logan involves moving it from its current location in Lincoln to the Stateville property in Crest Hill. According to IDOC, this move would better balance women’s prisons in the state. MSN reported that inmates at Logan would remain there until a new prison is constructed.

Officials elected to represent Logan County expressed their concerns about this decision in a joint statement provided to 25NewsNow: "The decision by the Governor’s Administration to close Logan Correctional Center without any assurance of its reopening within Logan County is both devastating and infuriating. While we recognize that Logan Correctional is in need of repairs, it is only in its current state of disrepair because of neglect and the misplaced priorities of this Administration. Logan Correctional is an instrumental part of Lincoln and its surrounding communities. It provides more than 500 direct jobs, hundreds more indirect jobs, and immeasurable local economic benefits." This statement was signed by Sen. Sally Turner, Rep. Bill Hauter, Logan County Board Chairman Emily Davenport, and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch.

Turner has served as a senator for Illinois' 44th Senate District since 2021. She holds a degree in legal studies from the University of Illinois and has experience as a juvenile probation officer and paralegal in the Logan County State’s Attorney’s Office. She was elected as Logan County Clerk in 1994 and held that position through five consecutive re-elections.