Dwight Prison given to state agency

PONTIAC - Control of the now-closed state prison near the central Illinois community of Dwight will be transferred from the Department of Corrections to another state agency.

State Senator Jason Barickman tells the Pontiac Daily Leader the Department of Central Management Services takes control of Dwight Correctional Center on July 1.

In an email to The Associated Press, Department of Corrections spokesman Tom Shaer says the agency will continue to maintain the property.

The newspaper reports once Central Management controls the property, it will be appraised before it will be offered to other state agencies and then other levels of local government. There is a chance it could then be listed for sale to the general public.

Dwight was closed last year as part of the state's effort to cut costs.