Lawmakers fighting to save Pontiac prison

Two state lawmakers have kicked off a tour of state prisons in an effort to block the closing of the aging Pontiac Correctional Center, located in rural Livingston County.

State Sens. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa) said Monday they hope to get Governor Rod Blagojevich to change his mind on shutting down Pontiac by bringing attention to the impact of prison closures on local communities.

State officials contend transferring most of Pontiac's 1,600 prisoners to the Thomson Correctional Center, a prison built for $145 million in 2001 near the Iowa border, would save money and improve safety for inmates and prison workers.

Thomson's minimum-security wing has housed prisoners for years, but its maximum-security unit has remained vacant.

Januari Smith of the Department of Corrections said the economic benefit to the communities they are near should not be the primary reason to continue to operate a facility.