Multiple officials at the Pontiac Correctional Center have resigned or been fired in the aftermath of an investigation into allegations of hazing and harassment directed toward a prison employee.
The complaint and the fallout from it came to light this week with the release of a report from the Illinois Executive Inspector General. It found that a prison employee had filed a report about sexual misconduct by an inmate. A prison supervisor then directed the employee to draw a picture of the conduct as part of a fake report, which was then distributed to other jail staffers, resulting in ridicule and harassment of the worker.
Other supervisors at the jail were aware of the harassment but failed to stop it. Several workers were fired while others resigned amid the investigation. The state says it has brought in new leadership at Pontiac and is working to change the culture there.
