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June 28, 2006
IL: Men arrive at former empty prison turned into "treatment" center for sexually dangerous men
Men arrive at treatment center
Half of sexually dangerous men enter while plan aims to move the rest by August
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
BY JODI POSPESCHIL
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
RUSHVILLE - About half the residents have arrived in the move that has turned the empty Rushville prison into a state treatment center for sexually dangerous men.
Earlier this month, the state began making transfers from the Illinois Department of Human Service's treatment center in Joliet, and about half of the 280 sexually dangerous men are now in Rushville, state officials said Monday.
The plan is to have the entire move to Rushville completed by the end of August, DHS spokesman Tom Green said.
Construction was completed in 2003 on the Rushville prison, but state budget cuts kept it from opening. The prison has required only minor modifications to be converted into the new treatment center, which will replace the one in Joliet.
Green said Monday that 39 security therapy aides from Joliet will be moving to Rushville, "but not all have moved yet."
Another group of about 10 will move from Joliet to Rushville for nonsecurity jobs ranging from maintenance to administration.
Green said nearly 100 people from the area are expected to be hired as security therapy aides.
"The initial class of 48 has gone through training and have started to work," he said. "There will be a second class of 46 that will start by the end of the summer."
About 230 people will work at the center once the move is complete. Moving vans have been hauling items such as office equipment between Joliet and Rushville.
In recent months, numerous employees from Joliet traveled to Rushville in groups for tours of the prison and the surrounding community. Several job fairs have been held in Rushville to explain employment options to interested applicants.
Green said the plan is to have the entire move to Rushville completed by the end of August. Moving vans have been hauling items such as office equipment between Joliet and Rushville.
Before the change in the prison's purpose was approved, public hearings were held in Rushville to gauge public support. Many in town supported the move because of the jobs it brings.
The center holds 360 beds that are divided into six living units. The most recent plan is to open four of those six units to hold the current resident levels.
The center's opening is good news for the city of Rushville, which has been making $125,000 annual payments on bonds and loans for infrastructure extensions to the site. With the facility up and running, it will be using the services that will help generate money to cover those payments.
Jodi Pospeschil can be reached at 686-3041 or state@pjstar.com.
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/062706/REG_BA7I81P4.033.shtml
Posted by lois at June 28, 2006 09:28 PM