East Central Reporter

State Representative Adam Niemerg criticized the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in a Facebook post dated December 12, expressing concerns over what he described as a "lack of transparency and communication" regarding a drug exposure crisis in Illinois prisons.

"The lack of transparency and communication from the Illinois Department of Corrections on the drug exposure crisis in Illinois prisons is very concerning," said Adam M Niemerg, State Representative for 102nd District (R), according to Facebook. "I have been calling for action for months to help protect corrections officers, staff, and inmates. We are only now hearing about IDOC's potential plans to move to electronic mail scanning because of FOIA requests made by journalists. Leaders at IDOC need to work closely with us and our corrections staff to solve this serious issue."

According to Niemerg's post, he shared an article from WBEZ that discusses a new IDOC program allowing prisons to electronically scan incoming mail. The state has entered into an agreement with ICSolutions for telecommunication services since late October. WBEZ suggests that this contract might indicate forthcoming restrictions on paper mail entering the prisons. The agreement states that "state facilities can scan and digitally deliver postal mail to people on an individual basis."

Screenshot of State Representative Adam Niemerg's Dec. 12 Facebook post | State Representative Adam Niemerg's Facebook page

A pilot program is currently underway at Menard and Pinckneyville Correctional Centers. It permits wardens to place inmates on mail scan status, preventing them from receiving unscannable mail, even if delivered by approved visitors, according to WBEZ.

The pilot initiative follows incidents where staff members at Menard were hospitalized after exposure to illicit drugs in the mailroom. In August, WSILTV reported that twelve staff members at Menard Correctional Facility were taken to a local hospital due to medical reactions from an unknown substance. A spokesperson informed WSILTV that one staff member was transported via ambulance while eleven others required medical evaluation. Illinois Poison Control and St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Hazmat Team assisted with the investigation, leading to a lockdown of the Menard Correctional Center. Personal protective equipment was also provided to staff.

Niemerg, who was first elected in 2020, describes himself as a "fiscal conservative focused on reducing taxes and fighting for limited government and pension reform," according to his official biography. He works as a senior claims adjuster with Country Financial and holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University.