HIGHLAND, IL – State Representative Charlie Meier has joined several colleagues from the General Assembly demanding a hearing during the 2024 Veto Session to address ongoing drug exposure problems at multiple Illinois Department of Corrections facilities.
“We need answers and solutions immediately,” said Rep. Meier. “If the reports from the last several weeks are true, the situation is getting worse. A hearing would give all relevant stakeholders – including DOC leadership, law enforcement officials, correctional staff, medical experts, and my constituents – the opportunity to illustrate the effect that this problem continues to have.”
Throughout multiple correctional facilities, there have been incidents of drug exposure causing illness and injury to both inmates and staff. Staff members at several southern Illinois prisons have been treated at area hospitals due to exposure.
“I refuse to sit idly by while both the staff and inmates are put in harm’s way,” Meier continued. “If these drugs are coming in through the mail, there should be an immediate suspension of the mail services until proper protocols are established to prevent exposure. Until we get to that point, mail can be scanned electronically. Please pray for our prison workers and inmates who are being innocently subjected to these life-threatening exposures.”
A letter was sent to the Democratic Chairs of the House and Senate Public Safety Appropriations committees. State Representatives John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), Dave Severin (R-Benton), Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona), along with Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) joined Meier to request the bicameral hearing to address these concerns. The 2024 Veto Session is scheduled to begin next Tuesday, November 12th.