Survey: Women at Logan Correctional say prison is understaffed, unsanitary

LINCOLN, Ill. (WAND) — New survey results showed that a majority of women incarcerated in the Logan Correctional Center believe the facility is understaffed and unsanitary.

Logan Correctional Center, located just south of Lincoln, is a multi-security female prison within the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). As of May 31, 2025, the prison housed 1,095 people. It is one of two female IDOC prisons.

The survey was conducted by the John Howard Association of Illinois (JHA). The organization provided enough survey packets so every person incarcerated at the center had an opportunity to participate in the voluntary and anonymous survey.

JHA visited Logan on January 29, 2026, after an earlier planned visit was rescheduled by IDOC. Surveys were distributed in late August 2025 prior to the initially planned visit. JHA received 480 responses to the survey through February 5, 2026, representing about 44% of the static population.

Some notable results from the survey include:

Drug use in this prison has increased in the past year.
- 49.2% agree or strongly agree
- 32.1% neutral
- 14.1% disagree or strongly disagree
Drugs cause problems in the facility.
- 57.9% agree or strongly agree
- 22.3% neutral
- 16.5% disagree or strongly disagree
This prison is missing important healthcare staff.
- 80.6% agree or strongly agree
- 9.8% neutral
- 6.3% disagree or strongly disagree
This prison is missing staff necessary for normal operations.
- 80.2% agree or strongly agree
- 11.7% neutral
- 5.8% disagree or strongly disagree
Some staff harass or threaten incarcerated people.
- 70.6% agree or strongly agree
- 14.2% neutral
- 12.9% disagree or strongly disagree
Commissary is well-stocked.
- 7.5% agree or strongly agree
- 14% neutral
- 76.7% disagree or strongly disagree
Incarcerated individuals feel hungry after meals even if they eat everything on their trays.
- 80.4% agree or strongly agree
- 10% neutral
- 8.1% disagree or strongly disagree
The common areas are clean and sanitary.
- 21% agree or strongly agree
- 26.7% neutral
- 51% disagree or strongly disagree
This prison is getting better.
- 4.2% agree or strongly agree
- 12.5% neutral
- 81.4% disagree or strongly disagree

The full survey results can be found here.

The Logan Correctional Center is currently planning to close, with the population set to be moved to a new facility in Crest Hill, Illinois. Logan Correctional will remain open during construction, and there is no tentative opening date for the Crest Hill facility.