Story Published:
Oct 7, 2008 at 5:12 PM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 7, 2008 at 7:46 PM CST
It's been an eighth month struggle to keep Pontiac prison open.
It really began in late March, when Governor Rod Blagojevich backed off his plan to close Stateville Prison. That move made Blagojevich set his sights on closing Pontiac, and in May he announced his intent to close the prison by February.
In June, Pontiac residents spoke out and held a Save the Prison rally.
The following month, the Illinois Department of Corrections missed its deadline to file prison closure paperwork.
Last month, a state advisory committee voted against Blagojevich's plan to close the prison. The following day, AFSMCE filed a lawsuit against the state to keep the prison open.
The next week a long–suppressed Independent study said more prison space would be needed to house prisoners in the next eight years.
And that brings us to October 6th, when the D.O.C. announced the transfer of 100 prisoners away from Pontiac.
