Thomson, IL -
For eight years, it's sat nearly empty. Now Thomson prison has grabbed national attention. Instead of housing Illinois' worst prisoners, it could be home to dozens of terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay Cuba since 2002.
If the goal was show a united front, then several Illinois politicians illustrated just that Sunday afternoon at the Quad City International Airport. Politicians that included Gov. Pat Quinn, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mike Jacobs, Rep. Pat Verschoore and Rep. Mike Boland.
"All the representatives and senators with me today support what were doing and I think it's important we not miss this opportunity. This is a once in a lifetime chance for Illinois to get another federal prison in Western Illinois, that will be helpful to the whole region," says Governor Pat Quinn, (D) Illinois.
But some aren't so united in the Village of Thomson. Some say, frankly, they don't want alleged terrorists in their backyard.
"I don't care to have them hereĀ I really don't," says one concerned man.
"We don't need those kinds of prisoners over here, those kinds of people, I don't think so," says his wife.
Thomson Correction Center is not in an unpopulated area the way many maximum security prisons are. A public road and railroad are not far from the prison walls. Homes and businesses are within a mile of the facility. But Senior Senator Dick Durbin gave his assurance that the people of Thomson would be safe.
"Mark my word, nobody is coming out of this facility that we don't want coming out of this prison. These prisons are as secure as can be and that's why there have been no escapes from maximum security prisons," says Sen. Durbin, (D) Illinois.
The federal government has said if it uses Thomson, it would build a second fence, outside of the first, to make the prison even more secure. But most people in Thomson say they aren't worried.
"These people have already been caught. We know what they look like. People would track them down. You can't go around being paranoid all your life," says Suzie Berg, Savanna.
Washington says the federal prison would bring an estimated one billion dollars into the area, over a four year period. That has many in Thomson and the surrounding communities hopeful to put a dent into the 10.5-percent unemployment rate in Carroll County.
"The area can definitely use the jobs so it's okay with me. I have no problem," says Jeff Berg, Savanna.
"If it helps the community, yeah, but this nice little town is not going to be nice any more," says Mike Perry, Thomson.
Estimates are that this move would create at least 2,000 prison jobs and 1,000 jobs in the community with new homes and new or expanding businesses. The state put $145 million into building the facility ten years ago and would get that, and likely more, should it sell to the government. But there are several other states vying for these GITMO prisoners, including Colorado and Montana.
Thompson is in the district of Illinois congressman Don Manzullo and he is firmly against the plan. In a statement he says, "I adamantly oppose this plan to bring the terrorists to Northwestern Illinois where they could one day be released into our communities. Our residents in Carroll County and throughout Northwestern Illinois desperately need jobs, but bringing the world's most dangerous terrorists to Northern Illinois would do more harm than good in the long run," says Manzullo, (R) Illinois.
About 200 Illinois prison guards were slated to work at Thomson once it opened. But if it opens as a federal prison, they may be out of luck. The prison currently has a few guards working to monitor less than 200 minimum security prisoners. The rest of the guards were sent to other prisons in the state and told to "wait" until the prison opened to get their jobs back. The Illinois Director of Corrections, Michael Randle, says the guards would have to reapply to get a federal prison job, because the requirements are different and more stringent. It's a disappointment for guards and loved ones who were counting on getting back to Thomson one day.
"I wish that wouldn't happen. I wish, you know, they'd just be told they were going to retrain you in the federal way," says Jennifer Hill, the girlfriend of a guard at Pontiac prison.
Hill's boyfriend Brian only worked at Thomson for five days before they sent him packing to Stateville, then Pontiac prison.
"It would be awesome if they were given one of the first chances because that's where they were supposed to work. Being gone, its such a stressful job to begin with and it just brings more stress to sit at home after working all day by themselves or with other employees who are renting and discuss being away," says Hill.
Also in question is the issue of overcrowding in current maximum security prisons in Illinois. Some say, why sell one of our finest, state-of-the-art prisons when we could use it ourselves to ease overcrowding in current prisons? Could taxpayers end up paying more in the long run if the state might have to build another prison in the future anyway?
"I don't necessarily agree with that, the bottom line is, we can't afford to operate the facility because we don't have the dollars and agency to operate it," says Mike Randle, Director of Illinois Corrections.
"I think it's the opportunity to have a transaction with the federal government for literally millions of dollars coming back to Illinois. It's a very good fiscal opportunity for us. As we carry out our Correction reforms, I think we'll be able to make sure our Correction system is safe for the public and those who are serving in the system," says Gov. Quinn.
Federal officials are expected at Thomson correctional center Monday morning to inspect the prison.
If the goal was show a united front, then several Illinois politicians illustrated just that Sunday afternoon at the Quad City International Airport. Politicians that included Gov. Pat Quinn, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mike Jacobs, Rep. Pat Verschoore and Rep. Mike Boland.
"All the representatives and senators with me today support what were doing and I think it's important we not miss this opportunity. This is a once in a lifetime chance for Illinois to get another federal prison in Western Illinois, that will be helpful to the whole region," says Governor Pat Quinn, (D) Illinois.
But some aren't so united in the Village of Thomson. Some say, frankly, they don't want alleged terrorists in their backyard.
"I don't care to have them hereĀ I really don't," says one concerned man.
"We don't need those kinds of prisoners over here, those kinds of people, I don't think so," says his wife.
Thomson Correction Center is not in an unpopulated area the way many maximum security prisons are. A public road and railroad are not far from the prison walls. Homes and businesses are within a mile of the facility. But Senior Senator Dick Durbin gave his assurance that the people of Thomson would be safe.
"Mark my word, nobody is coming out of this facility that we don't want coming out of this prison. These prisons are as secure as can be and that's why there have been no escapes from maximum security prisons," says Sen. Durbin, (D) Illinois.
The federal government has said if it uses Thomson, it would build a second fence, outside of the first, to make the prison even more secure. But most people in Thomson say they aren't worried.
"These people have already been caught. We know what they look like. People would track them down. You can't go around being paranoid all your life," says Suzie Berg, Savanna.
Washington says the federal prison would bring an estimated one billion dollars into the area, over a four year period. That has many in Thomson and the surrounding communities hopeful to put a dent into the 10.5-percent unemployment rate in Carroll County.
"The area can definitely use the jobs so it's okay with me. I have no problem," says Jeff Berg, Savanna.
"If it helps the community, yeah, but this nice little town is not going to be nice any more," says Mike Perry, Thomson.
Estimates are that this move would create at least 2,000 prison jobs and 1,000 jobs in the community with new homes and new or expanding businesses. The state put $145 million into building the facility ten years ago and would get that, and likely more, should it sell to the government. But there are several other states vying for these GITMO prisoners, including Colorado and Montana.
Thompson is in the district of Illinois congressman Don Manzullo and he is firmly against the plan. In a statement he says, "I adamantly oppose this plan to bring the terrorists to Northwestern Illinois where they could one day be released into our communities. Our residents in Carroll County and throughout Northwestern Illinois desperately need jobs, but bringing the world's most dangerous terrorists to Northern Illinois would do more harm than good in the long run," says Manzullo, (R) Illinois.
About 200 Illinois prison guards were slated to work at Thomson once it opened. But if it opens as a federal prison, they may be out of luck. The prison currently has a few guards working to monitor less than 200 minimum security prisoners. The rest of the guards were sent to other prisons in the state and told to "wait" until the prison opened to get their jobs back. The Illinois Director of Corrections, Michael Randle, says the guards would have to reapply to get a federal prison job, because the requirements are different and more stringent. It's a disappointment for guards and loved ones who were counting on getting back to Thomson one day.
"I wish that wouldn't happen. I wish, you know, they'd just be told they were going to retrain you in the federal way," says Jennifer Hill, the girlfriend of a guard at Pontiac prison.
Hill's boyfriend Brian only worked at Thomson for five days before they sent him packing to Stateville, then Pontiac prison.
"It would be awesome if they were given one of the first chances because that's where they were supposed to work. Being gone, its such a stressful job to begin with and it just brings more stress to sit at home after working all day by themselves or with other employees who are renting and discuss being away," says Hill.
Also in question is the issue of overcrowding in current maximum security prisons in Illinois. Some say, why sell one of our finest, state-of-the-art prisons when we could use it ourselves to ease overcrowding in current prisons? Could taxpayers end up paying more in the long run if the state might have to build another prison in the future anyway?
"I don't necessarily agree with that, the bottom line is, we can't afford to operate the facility because we don't have the dollars and agency to operate it," says Mike Randle, Director of Illinois Corrections.
"I think it's the opportunity to have a transaction with the federal government for literally millions of dollars coming back to Illinois. It's a very good fiscal opportunity for us. As we carry out our Correction reforms, I think we'll be able to make sure our Correction system is safe for the public and those who are serving in the system," says Gov. Quinn.
Federal officials are expected at Thomson correctional center Monday morning to inspect the prison.
