The Illinois Department of Corrections is permanently closing the Du Quoin Impact Program facility, ending years of uncertainty about whether the longtime correctional site would reopen.
IDOC announced the decision Tuesday as part of closures that also include the Dixon Springs Structured Impact Program and work camps in Greene and Adams counties.
The department cited declining participation, operating costs and facility conditions. Combined, the four closures are expected to avoid nearly $36 million in capital costs and save approximately $6.5 million annually.
The Du Quoin facility opened in 1994 near the State Fairgrounds as a minimum-security, military-style boot camp program with capacity for 200 men.
The facility has not housed participants since 2020, when inmates and staff were relocated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, the program has operated from the Murphysboro Life Skills Re-Entry Center.
No employees will be laid off because of the permanent closure. IDOC says affected employees will be reassigned to Pinckneyville Correctional Center, while the state considers future uses for the Du Quoin property.
The decision has drawn criticism from Southern Illinois lawmakers, including State Senator Terri Bryant, who has advocated for preserving and expanding the rehabilitation program.