A public hearing on the proposed permanent closure of the Du Quoin Impact Program will be held Wednesday, October 21st following an August announcement by the Illinois Department of Corrections that it intends to close the facility.
The minimum-security, military-style boot camp opened in 1994 and is located behind the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. The facility has not housed inmates since 2020, with participants now housed at the Murphysboro Life Skills Re-Entry Center.
Du Quoin Mayor Josh Downs said the program previously played an important role in the community, with inmate work crews helping maintain the state fairgrounds, remove snow downtown and assist with other community projects.
Downs said the city continues to occasionally receive assistance from work crews based in Murphysboro, but he would like to see the Du Quoin facility put back into use rather than remain vacant.
One possibility discussed with the governor’s office involves converting the property into a juvenile pretrial detention facility.
State Representative David Friess has expressed opposition to the closure, saying the community would prefer to see the facility properly staffed and returned to operation.
The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability will hear testimony from the Department of Corrections and local stakeholders during the October 21 hearing. The bipartisan commission will then issue its recommendation on whether the closure should proceed.
The hearing will take place at the 2nd Heat Building on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds and will be open to the public.