Thomson prison was wasteful spending

In the same week it was reported that prisoners are being released early because of prison crowding, it was also reported that there is discussion about sending prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to a "state of the art" prison in the obscure town of Thomson, Ill., because it houses only 200 prisoners. Can a "state of the art" prison housing 200 prisoners be cost effective?

As a taxpayer, I do not question sending the prisoners to Thomson as much as why this "state of the art" prison, completed in 2001 and with a capacity of 1,600, is housing only 200 prisoners. Why was this prison even built if not needed and why in remote Thomson? Was it just another pork barrel project for which we get the privilege of paying?

Our state has been described as being the third most fiscally irresponsible state in the country. It would seem we are well on our way to being No. 1, in this case not an admirable thing.

Donna Tessendorf

Dundee