Governor Bruce Rauner visited a state prison Wednesday. It's the first time a sitting governor has done that in years. Rauner says an overhaul of Illinois’ criminal justice system is a priority for his administration.
“The Department of Corrections is operating at more than 150% of its design capacity. That is unsafe to both inmates and staff."
After announcing a commission to scrutinize sentencing policy in Illinois, Rauner is visiting a prison: Logan correctional center, a women's prison in Lincoln, about a half-hour north of Springfield.
It’s something his predecessor, former Gov. Pat Quinn, never did, even as an independent watchdog reported flooding, roof leaks and other problems with the aging facilities.
Despite requests from activists, Quinn said he had a lot to do, and trusted his staff to manage the Department of Corrections.