Experts say Illinois’ most troubled youth prison isn’t getting any better despite repeated assurances from state officials.
Youth suffering from mental illness, juvenile sex offenders and kids designated maximum-security go to Kewanee in Western Illinois. But the prison’s remote location, doesn’t attract enough qualified workers.
The result, according to a new report from prison watchdog the John Howard Association, is a facility that is chronically understaffed and unsafe. John Howard Association’s Jennifer Vollen Katz says she’s frustrated by a lack of progress.
“If you can’t do what you’re supposed to do then you shouldn’t be operating. And Kewanee just doesn’t work. And truthfully it’s only gotten worse.”
Just this past Saturday there was an incident in which 17 youth at Kewanee allegedly kicked out windows and used glass shards to threaten prison workers.
A Department of Juvenile Justice spokeswoman declined an interview.
In a statement she says the department is starting to send kids with acute mental illness to a different youth prison because they haven’t been able to recruit enough qualified workers.