Judge Halts Pontiac Prisoner Transfer

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By Tom McIntyre

Story Published: Nov 18, 2008 at 5:30 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2008 at 8:55 PM CDT

A judge has temporarily blocked the state of Illinois from moving inmates out of Pontiac Prison.

In Vienna, Johnson County Judge James Williamson on Tuesday ordered the Department of Corrections to stop moving prisoners out of Pontiac Correctional Center pending resolution of a lawsuit filed by AFSCME, the prison workers' union.

The lawsuit claims the closure is creating safety concerns for employees.

A hearing on the state's motion to dismiss theAFSCME lawsuit is scheduled for the morning of Dec. 1.

Judge Williamson- in his ruling--said that if the motion to dimiss the lawsuit is denied, he'll immediately consider a restraining order halting the prisoner transfer.

Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees, says he hopes Governor Rod
Blagojevich will use the break to reconsider closing the prison.

Derek Schnapp, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections.
says the state will do what the judge tells it to do.

Wednesday, Nov 19 at 6:37 AM EDD wrote ...

This is good news. There are enough good people out of work. What's Blagojevich thinking? What's next there will be no money unemployment benefits?

Tuesday, Nov 18 at 10:19 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Save Pontiac Prison!

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