Lockdowns spike at Illinois jail after officer layoffs

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - Inmate lockdowns at a northern Illinois jail have spiked after correctional officer layoffs this year.

The Rockford Register Star reports Winnebago County Jail inmates spent a combined total of nearly 500 hours on lockdown in October, when 10 corrections officers were laid off because of budget cuts. The number of hours surged to almost 2,000 the next month.

During lockdowns cell doors are kept shut instead of allowing inmates the chance to leave their cells in the mornings.

While lockdowns are mostly for the jail's disciplinary section, they've recently been used for the general population as the jail deals with having fewer correction officers and overtime cutbacks.

Inmates and officers say the long lockdown hours contribute to a dangerous environment, but jail officials say they have no choice with budget constraints.

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Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com