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CARTERVILLE, Ill. -- Multiple incidents have been reported in recent weeks at correctional facilities in Illinois, some of which resulted in hospital trips for officers, staff members and others.

In late August, we reported a dozen staff members at Menard Correctional Center were sent to a hospital after experiencing medical symptoms. Read this story below...

A Dozen Staff Members at Menard Correctional Center Taken to Hospital After Experiencing Symptoms

CHESTER, Ill. -- A dozen staff members at a southern Illinois correctional facility were taken to a hospital after experiencing some medical s…

Roughly two weeks later, News 3 reported information from the Illinois Department of Corrections, where they detailed a four-day stretch of searches and incidents at Menard Correctional Center, resulting in a total of nine staff members and officers who were sent to the hospital after feeling ill. You can read this report below...

9 Hospitalized, Drugs and Weapons Found in 4-Day Stretch at Menard Correctional Center

CHESTER, Ill. -- State officers have performed searches in a southeast Illinois prison in the last several days as part of an ongoing investig…

In the past several days, multiple people reached out to News 3 with concerns over more incidents which took place at local prisons and across the state.

We talked with State Senator 58th District Terri Bryant, who represents 14 counties, which include facilities of Menard, Pinckneyville, Big Muddy, Murphysboro and Du Quoin. She discussed the聽recent increase of incidents at area correctional facilities.聽

"As of yesterday, we have heard of nearly three dozen staff members, inmates, EMT responders being taken to the hospital from Menard," Bryant stated. "Also, yesterday, I think it's up to 12 now, from Pinckneyville Correctional Center. Also, had reports yesterday from another exposure at Shawnee Correctional Center and one at Dixon."

Bryant said she started looking into these incident from in June of 2024, after receiving multiple reports in regards to incidents happening at correctional centers.

Senator Bryant said she has been collecting reports of incidents which have taken place recently. She states she has now collected paperwork on 48 different incidents from 10 different state facilities, starting on June 3, 2024 through September 4.

"That's just since June," Bryant said. "That's not just staff, but is also offenders and some EMS staff who responded tp an inmate who had an exposure at Menard. So, just tons of them (reports)."

Senator Bryant says she has been talking with staff members at the correctional facilities for years. She says she is trying to help out with suggesting other ways for inmates to receive mail and eliminate incidents from happening.

"I've been trying to get the mail scanned electronically so it would go on an offender's tablet," Bryant said. "Then, we would actually be reading the mail, but instead of holding it in their hands, they would be reading it off their tablet. So, the only people who have potential exposure, are those who are scanning it in electronically."

Senator Bryant says she has talked with some staff members and she reports they are tired of dealing with the ongoing incidents.

"Number one, I think it has come to a head with staff where they say no more and now they're speaking out," Bryant said. "Number two, there's a possibility that this K-2 is what we're seeing primarily. Some Fentanyl, some K-2, sometimes it also has roach spray added to it. But, what happens with the synthetic cannabinoids, or synthetic marijuana, is as soon as you get a test for that cannabinoid, then the chemists that are making this just change the formula."

Bryant says she is reaching out to legislators and state officials to see if changes can be made.

"I have a responsibility of oversight on these agencies that are in my district," Bryant said. "And really overall as a Senator throughout the whole state, when we don't get that information, it's difficult for us to have oversight. So, I'm trying to get the Governor to intervene. He has to make changes at the highest level of the Department of Corrections."

For Senator Bryant's 58th District, she says she will do what she can to help out and encourage workers who feel impacted to reach out.

"So I'm asking the people that are working at those facilities to step up. It's time now to speak, especially if we get some individuals in here who are investigators," Bryant added. "Talk, because you can do that and you'll have whistleblower protection. But if you're not comfortable with that, if you'll let me know that you have something, I'm just telling people I'm going to be at Walmart on a certain day and I'll be in there for two hours. When I come out, there are documents on the windshield of my vehicle."

One report (attached below) was sent to News 3 from Senator Bryant. It stated an incident took place on August 16, 2024, at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center. This incident detailed a person in custody was throwing multiple items off the shelf and against the wall of the cell. The person in custody was reported to have slurred speech and was stumbling as he walked when he was escorted. The report described a search was conducted in the person's cell and a clear tube with a burnt end was discovered in the trash. Also reported was, in the person's property box, was an unknown pill, copper wire and multiple strips of paper containing unknown substances which later tested positive for synthetic cannabis.

Another report Senator Bryant sent to News 3 was from Big Muddy River Correctional Center with the incident date of 7.11.24. The report stated an officer was securing some cell doors when the smell of an odor was detected. The report then detailed multiple law enforcement reported feeling ill and later were sent to a hospital.

Here are more documents News 3 received from Senator Terri Bryant on incidents at Menard Correctional Center and Pinckneyville Correctional Center recently.