Peoria Standard

John Baldwin, the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, recently wrote a letter to the editor of the Canton Daily Ledger urging state Sen. David Koehler (D-46th) to challenge the leaders of the Democratic Party to pass a state budget to fund prisons.

In his letter, Baldwin referenced Koehler directly, saying, “I am asking Sen. David Koehler to stand up to his leaders in the legislature and pass a balanced budget with reforms that will help the overall financial health of our state. However, if they continue to refuse to work with the governor, they must pass a paid-for, short-term budget that will keep our prisons open and help us pay our bills. Our corrections system depends on it.”

Baldwin also spoke of how the Department of Corrections has “done its best to weather the storm” without a balanced state budget. He also wrote that the state is “on the precipice of real issues that could lead to lasting consequences.”

With it appearing as if there will be no budget reform until after the November elections, Baldwin stated that six-month stopgap budgets are essential for the Department of Corrections to continue operating. He stressed how difficult it would be for the department to continue without changes.