Tagged: prisons

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn can't proceed with plans to close prisons - at least for now.

A state appeals court has denied his administration's request to dissolve a temporary restraining order that prevented him from closing prisons in Tamms and Dwight, three halfway houses and juvenile detention centers in Joliet and Murphysboro. 

The Fifth District Appellate Court entered its order on Wednesday, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees received it on Friday.

Proposed amendment to appear on November ballot

A Missouri appeals court panel has upheld the ballot summary for a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the process for selecting appellate judges.

In its ruling Monday, a three-judge panel of the Western District Court of Appeals certified the summary that voters will see on the November ballot.

Updated 3:25 p.m. to show denial of all-time statistic.

The number of people locked up in Illinois prisons has hit an all-time high while Gov. Pat Quinn battles with state employees over closing several correctional facilities.

State records analyzed by The Associated Press show the population hit 49,154 over the weekend. That's 19 inmates more than the Corrections Department's previous record, set on Oct. 6, 2011.