Governor Pat Quinn's proposed Illinois budget calls for closing 14 state facilities, including the Tamms Super Max prison and seven others run by the Corrections Department.An administration official said Tuesday that Quinn's budget proposal also calls for closing the maximum security prison at Dwight and six transition centers for inmates nearing their release dates. The official was not authorized to discuss the proposal publicly and would speak only on condition of anonymity. In all, the facilities house about 2,650 inmates. Closing them would increase crowding in facilities that are already far beyond capacity to more than 48,600 people in space meant for 33,700. The budget Quinn is scheduled to deliver Wednesday also calls for closing two youth prisons and four facilities operated by the Department of Human Services.
Governor Quinn presents his Fiscal 2013 budget to a special joint session of the General Assembly Wednesday. You can hear live coverage of the Governor's speech on WSIU beginning at Noon.
