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Illinois FOP Corrections Lodge 263
calls for accountability and demands immediate removal of IDOC
Acting Director Latoya Hughes
[October 14, 2025]
SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois
Fraternal Order of Police Corrections Lodge 263 has lobbied for
years and continues to stand firmly with legislators calling
attention to the escalating crisis at Hill Correctional Center in
Galesburg and across the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).
FOP Corrections Lodge President Scot Ward issued the following
statement:
Legislators and Candidates accounts of the violence and chaos inside
Hill Correctional Center is accurate. The murder that occurred on
October 5th is true. The hostage situation on October 7th is true—an
inmate took another inmate hostage in segregation. And just days
later, there was an escape attempt involving an offender climbing
the fence and getting caught in the razor wire. These are not
isolated events. These are failures of leadership and
accountability.”
Ward said the FOP Corrections Lodge fully supports demands for
immediate action, citing an alarming statewide breakdown under the
leadership of IDOC Acting Director Latoya Hughes and her operations
team.
“Acting Director Hughes has lost
control of her department,” Ward said. “Her inability to maintain
safety, enforce discipline, or support staff has left our officers
exposed to violence and danger. We are calling again for her
immediate removal, along with her Chief of Operations. We are aware
the Chief of Ops is scheduled to retire. Therefore, we demand a
replacement who is operationally strong with a backbone be
appointed. The system cannot continue under leadership that denies
the truth while our officers risk their lives.”
Widespread Recent Failures Across the Illinois Department of
Corrections
• Hill Correctional Center (October 2025): Inmate murder with a
bed-spring shank, segregation hostage incident, and escape attempt.
• Shawnee Correctional Center (September 27, 2025): Inmate murdered
his cellmate using an extension cord.
• Menard Correctional Center (August 20, 2025): 21 shanks recovered;
multiple fights in restrictive housing daily for weeks.
o At Menard East House, three fights broke out simultaneously with
no lockdown; an officer suffered severe retina damage after being
attacked with baby oil and unknown liquids.
• Western Correctional Center (March–Present 2025): Multiple staff
assaults, including a “feces bomb” attack that caused an officer to
contract Hepatitis C.
• Graham Correctional Center (May–September 2025): 82 offenders
placed in restrictive housing for drug-related offenses.
• Menard Correctional Center (July 23rd 2025): Staff assault in
restrictive housing
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• Robinson
Correctional Center (mid-September 2025): Multiple offenders
high and combative, staff assaulted and kicked in the head.
• Dixon Correctional Center (mid-September 2025): Heroin
discovered inside the facility.
• Pinckneyville Correctional Center (September/October 2025):
Believed Drug Overdose death of offender.
• Stateville Correctional Center (October 2025): Murder death of
Offender
• Logan Correctional Center (September 10th 2025): Female LT.
assaulted broken orbital/concussion.
• This list is not all inclusive
“These are systemic issues,” Ward said. “Our correctional
officers are walking into volatile environments every day
because of failed policies and weak leadership. Governor
Pritzker’s so-called reforms have eliminated accountability and
undermined safety. Acting Director Hughes and her team have
allowed discipline to collapse and drugs to flood our
facilities. Enough is enough.”
The FOP Corrections Lodge 263 is Demanding:
1. Immediate removal of IDOC Acting Director Latoya Hughes and
her Chief of Operations.
2. Appointment of qualified leadership committed to safety,
accountability, and transparency for the sake of the employees
and offenders.
3. A full review and overhaul of IDOC’s disciplinary rule (DR
504) to restore meaningful consequences for violent or
disruptive behavior.
4. Mandatory transparency and reporting of all major incidents
involving staff assaults, contraband, or inmate violence.
5. Increased staffing levels, safety resources, and officer
wellness support (including from external resources).
“We appreciate the many Senators, Legislators and Candidates for
speaking the truth and standing up for our correctional
officers,” Ward concluded. “Governor Pritzker must act now.
Replace Acting Director Hughes, restore discipline, and bring
back accountability before more lives are lost. The safety of
our officers and the stability of Illinois prisons depends on
it.”
Sincerely,
Scot Ward, President
IL FOP Corrections Lodge 263
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