The parking lot was crowded with cars, a variety of correctional officers, and a canine member of the force arriving for an important “announcement” at the Thomson, IL, Correctional Facility on Monday afternoon, August 18, 2014.
Three well-dressed men waited outside the main door, but they neither greeted arrivals nor introduced themselves. No matter for this Editor. While my friend, Village of Thomson Board member, Dr. Arthur Donart, spoke to one man, I introduced myself to the second man in line.
As we talked, I realized what the announcement would be–from the man in question–new Warden Donald Hudson.
There would be more to learn inside, but I had my story before entering the prison! Warden Hudson told me “for under a year” he has been Warden in Williamsport, PA. Schuykill Institution Pennsylvania is a medium security, all-male facility, he explained. For two years prior to that position, he was Warden in Ray Brook, NY. Once inside, Warden Hudson met with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos before formal introductions commenced.
Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi and Chief Deputy Tim Cain waited with Carroll County Sheriff Jeff Doran. Sheriff Wilhelmi commented, “I’m hoping, looking forward to, the opening. It’s going to be a boon to the area and good for our local economy. The only issue I see is funding for local law enforcement and emergency services. We [in Whiteside County] and Carroll County have a limited number of Deputies. This will take away our ability to properly serve the citizens in the southwest quadrant of Whiteside County. This is, because we currently have only one Deputy that serves the western half of the County. I believe that the calls for service in the northwest quadrant will increase exponentially, due to the prison. We currently have three Deputies per shift and need four.”
Sheriff Doran expressed a sentiment others shared, “I hope it really gets open.”
The community of Thomson has waited 13 years for this building to open fully. Village of Thomson President Vicky Trager said, “This is really exciting, and we’re looking for good news (today). Thomson is celebrating its sesquicentennial, [honoring its past 150 years]. We consider the Federal Bureau of Prisons as part of our future.”
Senator Dick Durbin announced, “Thomson officially has a warden!” His duties will include “equipping, staffing, and opening the [Thomson facility]. “Warden Hudson was born in Kansas City.” Senator Durbin added, full activation of the prison takes two years, with appropriations to come. The jobs created in the region will generate “$100’s of millions in economic development.”
Although she has served less than two years in office, Congresswoman Bustos stated the Thomson Correctional Facility has been “one of our top priorities,” i.e., hers and Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels‘. “This [facility] is a safety mechanism to relieve overcrowding” in other prisons. Working across party lines, Representative Bustos was acknowledged with staving off a budget attack that imperiled funds for this prison.
Director Samuels introduced Warden Donald Hudson as “exceptional. He brings a wealth of correctional experience, particularly in high security institutions, which will make him an exceptional leader for this facility. Warden Hudson began his career with the Bureau in 1990 as a Correctional Officer at USP Leavenworth, KS. He rose through the ranks in positions of increasing responsibility, to include Lieutenant at USP Atlanta, GA, and Captain at FCI Tallahassee, FL, and USP Marion, IL. Most recently, Warden Hudson has served as Warden at FCI Ray Brook, NY, and FCI Schuylkill, PA. I know I can speak for Warden Hudson when I tell you, he and his family are looking forward to becoming a part of your community.”
The Warden was an immediate crowd-pleaser. “I’m just ecstatic to be back in the Midwest!” he began. “You are probably wondering, what is my first act going to be? We’re going to work on air conditioning.” The large group sitting in the warm, inmate-family visitation room applauded heartily. He noted need for electronic and other system upgrades, because “they have become antiquated over 13 years.” However, he stressed, “security features are adequate.” Director Samuels added the “upgrades are for security by the FOP.”
The Editor asked if high security prisoners currently are being selected for transfer and how this is done. Director Samuels answered, “Staff in Texas reviews every inmate, and wardens have input. This is going on now.” Will the first 1500 inmates come en masse? “They won’t come en masse, but will be phased in over two years, starting in 2015. This allows time to train the staff.”
Both Senator Durbin and FBOP Director Samuels stated 1100 staff will be employed at AUSP Thomson. The latter said these include “mental health, security, religious support, and educational” support. Jennifer Edens, Chief of the Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington, D. C., stated, “Preparation for reentry [into society] begins on day one [of incarceration]. She added, “inmates are required to complete the GED program” to earn a high school degree. Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes are offered, too.
If you have an interest in working with the FBOP, click here to read how to apply for 14 categories of careers.
Following are the full introductory remarks of FBOP Director Charles Samuels, published exclusively here with his permission. Note the new name of the Thomson facility is Administrative United States Penitentiary Thomson, or AUSP Thomson. Underlining is by the Editor.
“Thomson, IL, Community Event, August 18, 2014: Thank you for allowing us to host all of you here today at the Administrative United States Penitentiary (AUSP) Thomson. It is truly an honor to have Senator [Richard] Durbin and Congresswoman [Cheri] Bustos here with us this afternoon. Both of you have been supportive of all our efforts to acquire and now activate this facility.
And special thanks to Village President [Vicky] Trager and to all of you in the community who have been so welcoming and helpful, as we work to bring much needed jobs and dollars to this region. AUSP Thomson is going to help the Bureau achieve our public safety mission.
When the institution is fully activated, we expect to house 1900 inmates who require high security confinement and have 200 minimum security beds at the facility. In order to manage this large and complex mission, we will employ approximately 1100 staff.
The largest staff component will be correctional officers…and will also include mental health, medical, education, and religious services staff, who will support our reentry and recidivism reduction efforts.
We are pleased to have the facility to help reduce crowding at our other high security prisons, [which] currently hold 54% more inmates than they were designed to house.
Please know, activation of a Federal prison, especially as I mentioned earlier, a prison having a large and complex mission, is a multi-year process. It is critical to the safety and security of the public, our staff, and the inmates that we ensure all aspects of the facility are ready for operation. And it is equally critical that staff–particularly staff who are new to Federal correctional work–are adequately trained, before we begin bringing high security inmates into the facility.
Today marks an important step forward in the activation process…. At this time, I am pleased to announce that Donald Hudson, who is with us today, has been selected as the Warden of AUSP Thomson.
With Warden Hudson’s selection, in the next few weeks we will bring on staff from other Federal prisons and begin the process of local hiring. This allows experienced Bureau staff to be on-site to train locally hired staff, in the day-to-day operations of a Federal prison.
We plan to begin hiring in the local community in the very near future. These positions will be posted on the usajobs.gov website, where applications are completed online. In addition, individuals interested in employment may also contact the North Central Region’s Human Resources for information at the following email: thomsonjob@bop.gov. We need your support to help us recruit, particularly for specialty areas like physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and teachers.
In the meantime, while staff are being hired and brought on board, we will begin purchasing and installing equipment needed to operate the facility. Opportunities for businesses to sell to the prison will be posted on the website fedbizopps.gov. I understand that there are local contacts available to help businesses with the Federal procurement process. However, if you have any questions requiring additional assistance regarding this process, please contact the Field Acquisition Office at www.bop.gov. As staff are hired, they will support local business through such things as real estate, shopping, gas, recreation, and entertainment.
You are going to see a lot more activity here at AUSP Thomson in the weeks, months, and years ahead. We expect to have minimum security inmates at the facility in the coming months, to help with work details, such as cleaning and grounds keeping. No high security inmates will arrive until calendar year 2015. Thomson will not be used to house detainees or pre-trial offenders.
The Bureau of Prisons is pleased to join the community of Thomson, IL. We look forward to being a valued neighbor, employer, business partner, and member of the law enforcement community. Thank you all for welcoming us, and thank you, Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Bustos, for your support of the mission of the Bureau of Prisons.”
- Additional good news was that Administrative United States Penitentiary Thomson is now the 121st Federal Prison in America and, as such, is in the regular prison appropriations process.
- Bad news for Thomson was reiterated. Since the prison was sold, the Village of Thomson has struggled with payments for a new water and sewage system, which was built in 2001 specifically to serve the Thomson Prison. The State of Illinois made water and sewage bond payments while it owned the facility. However, as Senator Durbin noted, “It’s been two years since the Federal Government purchased it from the State of Illinois.” Questions arose regarding the possibility of the Federal Government now taking over those payments. Director Samuels had prepared a comment: “Neither the Bureau’s agreement to purchase Thomson nor the subsequently negotiated water and sewage contracts with the Village of Thomson included the Bureau assuming the liability for the water bond payments.”
Congresswoman Bustos shared a moment of conversation with Dr. Donart, prior to the official start of gratifying announcements for the newly-named and ready-for-activation Administrative United States Penitentiary Thomson. He thanked the Congresswoman “for her interest in Thomson and for sticking with us.” Journalist Tom Kokal looks on.
