Millions of dollars are being funneled into the process of opening Thomson Prison in Thomson, Illinois.
The Bureau of Prisons committed to share $59 million in federal funding with Thomson Prison, keeping the activation process on track. This commitment was confirmed during a meeting in Washington with the Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels on Thursday, February 26, 2015. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos were in attendance.
The process to opening the prison began in September 2013, when Durbin and Bustos confirmed they were “fully committed” to activating the facility. A warden was hired to run the prison in August of 2014, after sitting empty for more than a decade.
Of the funding money, $15 million will go toward construction activities and $43.7 million will be used for staffing, equipment purchases and upgrades.
“This steady funding stream and solid commitment from the Obama Administration will keep the activation of Thomson Prison on track,” Durbin said after the meeting.
Bustos said the first group of inmates was set to arrive in the spring.