The Illinois General Assembly should stand against privatized, for profit detention centers. As a resident of Illinois, I demand that the General Assembly extend the existing ban on private prisons to cover civil detention centers like the one CCA is proposing in Joliet. Don't let profiteering on human misery come to Illinois.
Why is this important?
Illinois law already bars the state and local government from contracting with private companies to build and run correctional facilities. Illinois understands that jailing people is a "uniquely governmental function," and that bringing profit motives into detention leads to mismanagement and abuse. Corrections Corporation of America ("CCA"), is currently trying to build such a center in the Chicagoland area and this is NOT covered by existing law.
