Overview
- The Illinois Department of Corrections confirmed on June 5 that it will replace both the women’s Logan Correctional Center and the men’s Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill rather than rebuilding Logan at its current Lincoln site.
- State advisers and a construction‑advising firm concluded the Lincoln property lacks the required acreage and site conditions to fit the new women’s facility, while Crest Hill lets the state share a central utility plant, medical services, warehouse space and other infrastructure.
- The new designs call for an 800‑bed women’s facility and a 1,500‑bed men’s facility with room to add 450 more beds, and the FY2026 budget set aside $900 million for the projects.
- The Illinois Capital Development Board will solicit design‑build proposals later this summer, IDOC estimates construction will take about five years once started, and officials say Logan will remain open as long as possible while the state evaluates future uses for the Lincoln property.
- Local leaders, prison staff and unions say the move will hurt Lincoln’s economy and force workers to relocate or quit, while some state lawmakers and outlets stress the cost and schedule savings of building both prisons at one site.