State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) issued the statement in response after the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) accepted permanent rules regarding mail procedures in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities:

“For years, I have been raising alarms about the dangerous and entirely preventable flow of drugs into our correctional facilities. I have listened to correctional officers, toured facilities, and reviewed incident after incident involving drug exposure that put lives at risk. Today’s action by JCAR is a necessary step toward finally addressing those concerns.

“Accepting these rules clears the path for the Department of Corrections to fully implement mail scanning, a commonsense safeguard that should have been in place long ago. Too many officers and incarcerated individuals have been exposed to illicit substances because of delays and inaction.

“While the acceptance of these rules is an important milestone, the real work now lies in proper and consistent implementation. I will continue to push for accountability to ensure IDOC follows through and that the safety of staff and inmates is treated as a priority, not an afterthought.”