Nicole Murphy Reporter

1:59 a.m. CDT, August 4, 2009
EAST MOLINE, Illinois—
419 state jobs are on the chopping block. The Illinois Department of Corrections spokesperson Januari Smith announced 419 employees at six prisons will be let go as of September 30 - this includes the East Moline Center. Affected workers include correctional officers, maintenance workers and food service employees. Smith said the correctional department plans to layoff more than 1000 employees to save around $125 million.

Illinois Representative Mike Boland (D) said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and the AFSCME members are working to find a way to save some of those jobs by having employees forego pay raises and take furlough days. Boland pointed out less staff could put lives at stake. "The cuts, obviously, endanger people. Not only the prisoners in the prison but also the guards and other staff."

Correctional Centers in Lincoln, Logan, Decatur, Vandalia and Vienna will also be affected in this round of layoffs.