Illinois prison system urged to overhaul as crowding soars
Springfield watchdog Kurt Erickson notes IDOC runs 49,000 inmates in a system built for 33,700, with 97 percent bed occupancy and annual $25,000 per inmate. John Howard Association warns of fiscal strain, staff stress, low education rates, and rising recidivism above 51 percent.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois Department of Corrections
Springfield
Kurt Erickson
Quinn
John Howard Association
Howard Group
IDOC
Rod Blagojevich
Thomson Correctional Center
Illinois
Hot Rod
Pontiac Correctional Center
George Ryan
Thomson
Feds
Howard Association
Associated Press
Menard Correctional Center
Chester
Tribute to Christopher Hitchens by Kathleen Parker
Kathleen Parker recalls the writer Christopher Hitchens in a reflective tribute. She notes his wit courage humility and relentless defense of the defenseless while recounting personal meetings and his fearless final essays as he faced esophageal cancer and death. She signs as a Washington Post Writers Group columnist.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Christopher Hitchens
Hitchens
Christopher
Buckley
John McCain
NBC
Mother Teresa
God
David Frum
Danielle Crittenden
Sarah Palin
Nat Sherman
Vanity Fair
Death
Reagan
Congress
Ron Paul
Newt Gingrich
Herman Cain
Clinton
NAFTA
Johnston City Christmas tree comeback celebrated
Virginia Burton applauds local effort led by Anthony Spiller and the Christmas Tree Committee as Johnston City lights its tree on November 26 featuring broad community support. She urges ongoing citizen involvement beyond the holiday season to aid the town's resurgence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Anthony Spiller
Johnston City
Letters to Editor Policy for The Southern Illinoisan
Readers are advised of submission rules for letters to the editor including word limits, signature and hometown, verification contact numbers, and a note that the paper edits letters and does not publish phone numbers or publish mass submissions. Contact details for Carbondale, Murphysboro, De Soto, Williamson County and other lines are listed, along with email and staff contacts for editors and managing editor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carbondale
Murphysboro
de Soto
Williamson County
Voice of the Reader
The
Southern Illinoisan
P.O. Box
Thesouthern
Officials Contact Lines For Illinois Delegation
Officials contact numbers for U S Senator Dick Durbin and U S Representative John Shimkus plus state rep Costello are listed with websites and district offices, including Durbin at 618 361 1122 and 202 224 2152 and Shimkus at 618 252 8271 and 202 225 5271 and Costello at 618 443 5757 and 217 782 1018.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Dick Durbin
Durbin
Senate
John Shimkus
House.gov
Shimkus
John Bradley
Jerry F. Costello
Gmail
Also Mentioned on This Page
Pantagraph
Lee Enterprises-owned
Ilinois
Thesouthern.com
Gary
Metro
Thesuthern.com
State OF the Nation
Kathleen Parker
Washington Post Writers Group
Kathleenparker
Washpost
Virginia Burton
Ohnston City
Ronald Reagan
Bill Clinton
Gary Metro
Kirk
Jerry Costello
Costello
House
Gary Forby
Yahoo.com
David Luechtefeld
Sendavel
Midwest
Brandon Phelps
Mike Bost
Mike
Bost
Hotmail
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