Hundreds Attend Rally Opposing Dwight Prison Closure

Hundreds of people in northern Illinois have rallied to show their support for Dwight Correctional Center.

Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed closing the facility to save money. The Times in Ottawa (http://bit.ly/zN8y03 ) reports 800 people filled the Dwight Township High School gymnasium on Monday for a rally to save the prison. The prison is the only female maximum-security facility in Illinois. It has about 1,000 inmates and employs about 350 people.

The Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council cites an economic impact study that found closing the prison could mean an estimated $40 million loss. Council representative Larry Vaupel says the economic impact extends beyond Dwight and into Grundy, Kankakee and Livingston counties.

Onarga State Senator Shane Cultra and Champaign State Representative Jason Barickman, both Republicans and opponents in the 53rd State Senate District, have gone on record opposing the prison closure. Both attended the rally.