The plan to close two prisons in Illinois and rebuild them is not without critics and worry in the communities where they are located.

The Governor and Department of Corrections say those two facilities will be rebuilt; Stateville in Joliet and Logan in Lincoln.

State Senator Don DeWitte of St. Charles questioned Latoya Hughes, Acting IDOC Director, on a firm commitment to reopen Stateville, after a planned demolition.

He’s not convinced that the prison will be rebuilt if prisoner populations continue to decline. Hughes says IDOC needs an updated prison on the current grounds.

The state hasn’t committed to rebuilding Logan in downstate Lincoln.