The Illinois Department of Corrections is working to make an emergency rule for scanning prisoners’ mail permanent.
Capitol News Illinois reports the rule requires incoming mail to be searched for drugs and other contraband before inmates are given an electronic copy. I-D-O-C held a public hearing on Tuesday as part of the rulemaking process.
Lindsey Hammond of advocacy group Restore Justice argues the department should wait until they have more data on where and how contraband is getting into prisons.
But employees at Illinois prisons say they already see improvements because of the new process. I-D-O-C could have to stop scanning mail if they don’t adopt a permanent rule before the emergency rule expires in January.
