Illinois prisons move to keep employees from exposure to drugs by touching mail, packages

The Illinois Department of Corrections is making changes to their mail system after labor union reports said workers were being exposed to hazardess substances that were hidden in pieces of mail sent from relatives or colleagues of prisoners.

A series of incidents last fall left dozens of correctional personnel hospitalized after exposure to substances just from physical contact with the mail. There have even been instances of Bibles and letters sent from fake law firms laced with drugs. 

A report from the union last September pointed to dangers ranging from fentanyl and ketamine to a massive influx of synthetic drugs, including synthetic marijuana and the "widespread and pervasive smoking of wasp or roach spray. "

According to reports over the last year a large amount of Illinois prison workers have been sent to the hospital for overdose symptoms from multiple facilities. As a result, IDOC workers went on strike due to the unsafe work conditions.

IDOC introduced the rule under pressure from Republicans and the prison workers’ union. 

Under current Illinois regulations, incoming mail is opened in the presence of the committed person to whom it is addressed to inspect for contraband, to verify the identity of the sender, and to determine that nothing other than legal matter is enclosed.

In August the Illinois Department of Corrections launched an emergency rule that will replace incoming physical mail with a printed or digital copy, aiming to reduce the amount of contraband making it into prison through the mail system.

Under IDOC’s new rule all incarcerated individuals will receive either a digitized copy or printed version of their mail. Through the electronic scanning system, the exact copy of the letter will go to the inmates' personal tablets.

Right now, the emergency rule is in affect for 150 days. Currently only 3 Illinois prisons have begun using the electronic system, but the goal is to prepare all prisons to adopt the system.