Senator speaks about Shawnee Correctional Center incident | Illinois

VIENNA, Ill. (WSIL) – A local lawmaker is speaking out about an incident that recently occurred at the Shawnee Correctional Center.

Illinois State Senator Dale Fowler addressed the public and stated that he was recently informed that correctional officers at the Shawnee Correctional Center had been exposed to an unknown substance that had been delivered through the mail.

“The safety and well-being of our correctional officers, as well as everyone in the facility, must remain our highest priority,” Senator Fowler said in a Facebook post. “This serious matter requires a thorough investigation, and I am committed to working with my colleagues and labor representatives to explore the necessary reforms to ensure this does not happen again. We must ensure our prison system has the proper protocols and resources in place to protect those who serve and live there.”

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, both the Shawnee Correctional Center and the Pinckneyville Correctional Center have been on lockdown since Saturday, September 21.

News 3 has reached out to the Illinois Department of Corrections for information.

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