12.02.09

Durbin Statement Following Illinois Delegation Briefing on Thomson Correctional Center

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a briefing for members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to discuss the Thomson Correctional Center in Carroll County, Illinois as a possible site for a new federal maximum security prison.

Earlier today, top Illinois law enforcement officials – including Illinois State Police Director, Jonathan Monken, who attended today’s meeting – wrote a letter to the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense making clear that turning the state prison in Thomson into a detention center for Guantanamo Bay detainees can be done without any increased risk to public safety. Also signing the letter were the presidents of the Illinois Sheriff's Association, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System.

Also attending today’s meeting were officials from the Departments of Defense and Justice (Bureau of Prisons) along with Senator Roland Burris and Representatives Melissa Bean (D-IL), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Debbie Halvorson (D-IL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Tim Johnson (R-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Don Manzullo (R-IL), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Peter Roskam (R-IL) Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Aaron Schock (R-IL).