Mail scanning as a possible solution to IDOC drug exposures

VIENNA, Ill. (KBSI) – Illinois Department of Corrections workers are still fearing for their safety – still handling potentially dangerous letters and packages – after leaders said no to a request to temporarily halt mail service.

A rally on Thursday focused on worker safety – shining a light on what they are facing. AFSCME union president for local 415, Brett Oxford said 11 Vienna Correctional Center workers – in three weeks – have experienced overdose symptoms after handling mail they believe to have been laced with drugs. He says drugs and alcohol are rampant in the correction centers.

“This administration has known about this for years, and they failed to act,” Oxford said. “This falls back on them. Our employees are in there every day doing everything they can to prevent this. When 11 out of, you know, 350 members in the last three weeks have went out in an ambulance that scares you. A lot of these people are very scared.”

Senator Dale Fowler said he’s disappointed the request to temporarily suspend mail service was turned down. He supports the request until proper safety protocols can be enforced to protect the health of workers. He is still calling for protective measures.

“These correctional officers and staff, just in general, take a lot of pride in their work and they’re fortunate to have these great jobs,” Senator Fowler said. “They don’t want to leave these jobs but, you know, throughout the years there have been staff that have left because of not having the support from the administration.”

Senator Fowler said he’s been told that drugs are coming in through the mail. He says one solution would be to have these letters scanned, and digitally provided to inmates.

Nonprofit organization Restore Justice came out in opposition to this idea, writing that mail scanning violates privacy, increases costs for families, and dehumanizes incarcerated people.

We did reach out to the IDOC. They declined an interview but released a statement saying they are continuing to work on a solution that protects workers while ensuring individuals in custody maintain essential communications and family connections.