Find money to fix youth prison
In regards to your Oct. 21, 2009 article on the St. Charles youth prison, I support your opinion that although prisons should not be the most comfortable place they should not be crumbling and falling apart due to neglect. As stated in your editorial this prison houses unsafe beds and plumbing that could result in more suicides.
As stated in the article on Tuesday's front page, $40 million of state money goes to a university, which isn't in disrepair. I fully agree with your statement it seems unimaginable that the money could not be found to complete minimal upgrades that could help guard against suicide and other harms.
This money could easily be found within the $40 million that is funded for Chicago State University. This money could be better spent at a facility that is suffering from neglect.
Currently at the St. Charles youth prison, there are 275 youth offenders that possibly, if conditions were more appropriate for rehabilitation, won't have 275 repeat offenders. The conditions as reported are not reasonable for any prisons, much less a youth prison.
To fix this neglected facility part or all of the $40 million that was originally to go to Chicago State University should now go to the St. Charles youth prison in order to help rebuild it to acceptable living conditions for a prison.
Eleanor Anderson
Bloomingdale
Student at Glenbard North High School