Of the 2,285 inmates, 1,844 were white and 441 were black. Employer est. Image source: /content/dam/soi/en/web/idoc/aboutus/publishingimages/menard-world.jpg. The Menard Correctional Center (the states second oldest prison and largest maximum-security prison) was established there in 1878 and is a major factor in the citys economy. Twenty years later the Southern Illinois Penitentiary opened, taking prisoners from the southern counties of the state. Visitors may purchase a debit card at the facility, normally at the gatehouse. Inmates at Menard Correctional Center in Chester are led across prison grounds Tuesday, May 20, 2014. A Yorkville man has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an Aurora woman who went missing 19 years ago and whose remains were discovered in Kane County in late 2020. None of these cells had plumbing. An armed guard watches over an east cell block of Menard Correctional Center onMay 20in Chester. Learn about Menard Correctional Center including visitation hours, phone number, sending money and mailing address information. Documents obtained by WBEZ paint a picture of how those deaths happened over the course of three days, as Menard Correctional Center staff ignored warning signs and one employee falsified documents. The entranceway has two stone lions. Visitation is encouraged to help offenders maintain ties with family, friends, and others in the community. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Video visitation hours for the General Division are Sunday through Friday 8:00a to 4:00p and Saturday 8:00a to 5:00p. Deposit slips can be obtained at https://www.jpay.com/moneyorder.aspx. But prison death records are often incomplete. Vollen-Katz said many other states provide better information about prison deaths than Illinois does. [1] In addition, inmates were divided into grades, A, B, C, D, and E, based on behavior. Louis Public Radio The biodiesel produced by ICI burns approximately 75% cleaner than conventional diesel. Evergreen Read More Add To Cart. Menard had courses for elementary schooling and several high school subjects.[4]. Be sure to bring two forms of identification with you; one should be a current state issued photo ID. Image source: /content/dam/soi/en/web/idoc/aboutus/publishingimages/menard-rain-barrell.jpg. Now he's seeking clemency so he can continue his education. To check if you are on the offenders visitor list, you should write a letter to the offender to inquire. Menard Correctional Center was established on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1878. Omar Aguilar is a 37 year-old who was listed as being under the supervision of the department of corrections in Menard Correctional Center, Illinois.He was sentenced / adjudicated in Cook County. Learn more about Menard Correctional Center. The State Prison was opened in 1878 Menard Correctional Center has a total population of 3,204, being the 32nd largest facility in Illinois. I expect a turn around in this facility as well as everyone working in & for it . The manufacture of Rain Barrels also helps to grow our "green collar" vocational training experience and presents another opportunity to instill the concept of sustainability to offenders assigned to our programs. Although the juries found the staff not to be liable, the case uncovered problems of sexual assault and gang activities within the prison. Menard Correctional Center is a Maximum security level State Prison located in the city of Menard, Illinois. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. [5], In 1928, Menard owned 1,100 acres (4.5km2) of farmland outside the grounds. The average prisoner age in this facility is 34 years. The Menard Correctional Center is a maximum-security prison for male inmates located in Chester, Illinois, and it is also the parent institution for Menard Medium Security Unit and Menard Reception and Classification Center. Legal visits have no restrictions but must be scheduled by the inmate in writing to the assistant wardens office.Infirmary inmates are allowed visits only when approved by the warden or assistant warden. The Illinois Department of Corrections's (IDOC) Illinois Correctional Industries (ICI) Recycling Program is located at the Menard Correctional Center and has been in operation since 1997. Failure to submit to a search will result in denial, suspension, or restriction of visiting privileges. Another option for contacting the facility is reaching out via email at LtGovStratton@illinois.gov. Inmates are only allowed two visits per month and can have up to two visitors at a time. The North II Cell House contains inmates in disciplinary segregation, administrative detention, and the general population. The only staff member called out for misconduct in the investigations was Mitchell, who admitted to falsifying logs and not checking on an inmate who was on suicide watch. Menard is the state's largest maximum security adult male facility. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman, Congregation members respond during an Antioch Missionary Baptist Church service at Calahan Funeral Home. In 1858, the Alton prison was replaced by the Joliet Correctional Center and closed. He's now seeking clemency so he can get out early after 26 years. Inmates can gain vocational skills in a variety of construction trades, and can take educational courses to earn an adult basic education and GED. LANSING WEST. SPRINGFIELD Menard Correctional Centeris on lockdown because of an outbreak of chickenpox. Several times in the past two weeks, a prosecutor in McLean County bond court has cited COVID concerns as a reason to release a defendant from jail. In the 1993 movie The Fugitive, Dr. Richard Kimble (played by Harrison Ford) is sent to the prison at Menard to await execution, but escapes following a bus-train collision en route. "We should be concerned that we don't know very much about how people in custody, people who are removed from their families and their communities and the public eye, are dying," Vollen-Katz said. Each inmate's average annual cost totals as of fiscal year 2018 $27,364.[3]. Illinois Department of Corrections. Visitors may only schedule one video visit per day. That law would have forced agencies to investigate and report all deaths in-custody to the state attorney general within 30 days and ensure the records were available under open records laws. Christie Thompson and Joe Shapiro of The Marshall Project wrote that the exterior "looks more like an ornate university building than a maximum-security facility. Individuals interested in purchasing rain barrels can find more information on the ICI webpage. Kimberly Butler of Carbondale recently took over as warden, becoming only the second woman to serve as warden of an all-male, maximum-security prison in Illinois. Box 1000Menard, IL 62259. Collect, curate and comment on your files. The goal of Menard's staff has been to grow these efforts beyond the prison's walls by working with fellow stakeholders to help build a sense of sustainability that reaches to the main streets of our local communities. Video Visitation Hours are as follows: General DivisionSunday through Friday 8am - 4 pmSaturday 8am - 5pm, Video Visitation Hours Medium Security UnitSunday through Saturday 8am - 6pm. The West Cell House holds inmates that are either high or moderate escape risk and are classified as High Aggressive Inmates, as well as the Protective Custody Unit. Two other state institutions, the Chester Mental Health Center and the Menard Psychiatric Center, are in the city. Low income urban dwellers spend between 40% and 60% of their income on food each year. Find out what works well at Menard Correctional Center from the people who know best. Today many offenders participating in ICI programs are learning the vocational skills that will help them gain employment in a fast emerging green collar economy. Jeff Squibb, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Corrections, confirmed to WILY Radio in Centralia, the prisoner was found dead in his cell at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. Including my father has complained about the racism, torture and inhumane treatment towards them. how to call an inmate in Illinois, please click here. **Population Menard Medium Security Unit: 373 Dress Code policy below applies to video visitation and the termination of Visit/Loss of Visiting Privileges also applies to video visitation. is to contact the State Prison for information on the inmate or visit them Inmates at Menard Correctional Center participate in art classes as a form of recreation. These photos offer a rare glimpse into the sights behind the fence. An armed guard stands on a watch tower at Menard Correctional Center on Tuesday, May 20, 2014. For all electronic transfer of funds, the inmate IDOC number and incarcerated last name must be used. hide caption. SPRINGFIELD In a 4-3 decision with a blistering dissent from the Republican minority, the Illinois Supreme Court declined to rule on a quest. The facility has a capacity of 3,861 inmates, which is the maximum amount of beds per facility. By 1931, Menard was one of three sites in which executions were carried out by electrocution in Illinois. I went about 2 years ago to visit my father & while taking a picture.. my dad went to hold me .. in then which we were told he couldnt ! On November 29, 2014, David Sesson killed Bernard Simmons; the two were also placed in a solitary confinement cell together.[7]. The maximum-security facility changes in elevation over 200 feet and includes more than 2,600 acres with 41 acres enclosed by perimeter. During that period the operation has steadily grown. Your use of video visitation and acceptance of the rules is consent to have both audio and video recorded of the video visit. June 2, 2022 WBEZ found that fundraising by CPS schools has skyrocketed since 2010. The facility is part of Menard, IL judicial district, which has 0 facilities in total. 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