Second chances: Du Quoin Boot Camp

You pull away from the newspaper and turn onto East Main Street in downtown Du Quoin to check on the outcome of an early morning apartment fire and by then inmates from the Du Quoin boot camp have already shoveled off half the sidewalks in downtown Du Quoin.

Make no mistake, the 170 to180 inmates at the boot camp are here for a reason, but over the years they have become a valuable labor force within the City of Du Quoin and the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

And, 23-year career correctional officer and boot camp superintendent Jason Henton is doing more with the program every day. He has been superintendent in Du Quoin since May 2014 and replaced retiring superintendent Clem Campanella.

Inmates were called into service to help with sandbagging in Jackson County in recent days. Before that, there work allowed the 2015 Holiday Lights Fair to open on time. This spring, the boot camp is partnering with the City of Du Quoin on its recycling program that will save the city time and money.

The list goes on: horticulture, educational classes, weekend worship. You name it. And, at the end of their 120 to 180-day sentence you see many of them released and dropped off at the Du Quoin train station. You hope the paramilitary discipline they were part of here in Du Quoin made a difference. For many, it does. For others, not so much.

It's definitely a niche program in the Illinois Department of Corrections. There are only two boot camps in the state--Du Quoin and Dixon Springs.

Upon intake, inmates are stripped of all of their outside life normalities, even giving up their first names. From there, inmates enter a very structured and organized environment and become a part of that community, each having different jobs and rules.

The Impact Incarceration Program is a four-month program and can only be offered to first- or second-time, nonviolent offenders. If offenders are offered and accept admittance into the program, it can take the place of a sentence of as long as eight years. However, the program is voluntary and inmates are allowed to leave whenever they wish, but must complete their original sentence accordingly.

The late Sen. Ralph Dunn was largely responsible for bringing the boot camp to Du Quoin. It opened August 1, 1994 and was built on approximately 10 acres on the back side of the state-owned Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

As of late last summer the inmate population was 172. It fluctuates.

The mission of Du Quoin Impact Incarceration Program as a minimum security facility is to provide for the protection of the public through the humane and secure incarceration of adult male offenders based upon the foundation of legislative and judicial decisions.

The institution's administration is committed to instilling responsibility and mature decision making in its offenders by providing extensive and high-quality educational programs, work assignment opportunities, vigorous physical training, and religious avenues.

The goal of the facility is to go far beyond the minimum necessities of food, sanitation, clothing, housing, and medical services to the offenders of the facility.

The administration and staff of the facility strive to maintain a clean and safe environment for the offender population, encouraging a positive adjustment while acquiring employment skills and educational advancements that will lend to rehabilitation and reduced recidivism.

Security measures are maintained to a strict degree to further ensure the safety of the community, offenders, and staff. In all these years, you can count the attempted number of walkaways on one hand. Inmates understand that if there are any issues, they will be returned to a medium security prison.

New reentry programming has been established to further encourage the successful transition of its offenders as productive citizens within communities through structured programming.

Du Quoin IIP functions as a boot camp, whereby eligible offenders approved by the sentencing court and accepted by the department, shall upon successful completion of the program requirements have their sentences reduced to time served between 120-180 active days. Upon successful completion, the offender shall serve a term of mandatory supervised release.

The center is comprised of four buildings which include the administration, multi-purpose, dormitory, and maintenance buildings contained on eight acres of land. The facility is encircled by a one-third mile running track with a 14,000 sq. foot outside exercise area.

On the first visit to any correctional facility, visitors are required to have a photo identification, such as a driver's license, a state identification card, or acceptable documentation of non-US citizen including a current passport, visa, or Matricula, and documentation that includes their date of birth.

Please have two forms of identification; one should be a photo ID for additional visits.

Visits are only allowed after the IIP offender has completed the initial 60 days.

Visiting times are 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends and holidays only.

All visits must be approved 14 days in advance at the offender's request. Visits are limited to two hour intervals, immediate family only.

Visitors must arrive 15 minutes prior to their pre-approved visit time. Due to limited seating visits are restricted to three adults per visit.

About the Du Quoin Boot Camp:

Facility Address

Business Mail:

275 Agriland Acres

Du Quoin, Il 62832

Phone: (618) 542-5738

Fax: (618) 542-4680

Inmate Mail:

Inmate Name & IDOC#

P.O. Box 999

Pinckneyville, IL 62274