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Sen. Forby Blames Pontiac Prison Assault on Tamms Prison Closure

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Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton)

A southern Illinois lawmaker says the recent attack on prison guards at Pontiac Correctional Center serves to highlight the short-sighted decision to close a prison in Alexander County.
Tamms Correctional Center, a "supermax" prison that housed Illinois' most dangerous criminals, closed its doors in 2013 as a casualty of then-Governor Pat Quinn's budget. State Senator Gary Forby of Benton is urging current Governor Bruce Rauner to consider re-opening the facility.

Forby says the attack on six corrections officers at Pontiac could have been avoided if the Tamms Supermax Prison was still open.

Tamms was built in the 1990's under then-Gov. Jim Edgar.
 

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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