Union officials say two employees of Henry Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg sustained injuries in an attack by an offender Friday. Both women required hospital treatment.
A news release distributed by AFSCME says a sergeant and an officer suspected the offender was passing contraband and directed him to stop. He responded violently, repeatedly punching and striking them about the head and face.
According to the union news release, the sergeant suffered an apparent broken nose and large welts across her forehead. The officer was struck in her ear and has lesser apparent injuries.
AFSCME Local 1274 President James Stickel is visiting the employees at the hospital. The facility has been placed on a Level 1 lockdown, according to AFSCME officials.
“This violent assault on AFSCME members just doing their jobs underscores the daily threats that employees face in Illinois prisons,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said.
“The Department of Corrections must act urgently to reduce those threats by hiring adequate staff and by restoring consistent disciplinary measures with meaningful repercussions when offender standards of behavior are not met.”
Located in Galesburg, Hill Correctional Center is a medium security prison that currently houses more than 1500 adult male individuals in custody.