Peoria Standard

Illinois State Senator Li Arellano has expressed concerns about prison neglect, attributing it to systemic issues and advocating for citizen-driven reforms. In a Facebook post, he called for ethical and financial changes within the system.

"This medical and moral failure in Illinois prisons has a severe impact on the Dixon community and so many others," said Liandro Gm Arellano, Illinois State Senator for 37th District, according to Facebook. "One of the many, many overlooked parts of Illinois' financial collapse is the resulting medical and moral failures of our ability to run prison systems and the justice system in general. It is easy to ignore prisons when there are so many other priorities also failing to get proper attention. I have said repeatedly we need ethical reform before we can have financial reform."

According to The Chicago Reporter, Illinois' prison healthcare system is under federal scrutiny following a 2024 monitoring report in the Lippert v. Jeffreys case. The report found that the Illinois Department of Corrections was compliant with only two out of over 40 required improvements. Dixon Correctional Center was specifically noted for severe medical neglect, staff shortages, and inadequate mental health services. The report emphasized dangerous conditions for aging and mentally ill inmates, prompting calls for urgent reforms and new healthcare contracts.

A May 2025 report by the John Howard Association revealed that Dixon Correctional Center operated with a 30% security staff vacancy rate, while healthcare positions remained critically understaffed. Frequent lockdowns due to insufficient staff disrupted medical access and increased mental health crises. The November 2024 Lippert monitoring report confirmed that most healthcare delivery benchmarks across Illinois prisons were unmet.

The Associated Press reported that Illinois has underinvested in prison infrastructure for decades. Facilities like Dixon, built in 1983, show signs of severe deterioration. Although nearly $900 million was approved in 2024 to replace Stateville and Logan Correctional Centers, Dixon was not included in these upgrades. This funding gap has left older facilities struggling with outdated systems and substandard healthcare environments.

Ballotpedia provides background on Arellano as a Republican state senator representing Illinois' 37th District since January 2025. He previously served as mayor of Dixon from 2015 to 2023 and is a U.S. Army reservist and small business owner. In the Senate, he serves on the Public Health Committee and has shown interest in correctional healthcare reform and rural policy issues.