Edwardsville, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Illinois State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is calling for the immediate withdrawal of Latoya Hughes’ nomination as Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), citing ongoing safety failures, staff endangerment, and a lack of leadership qualifications.
Director Hughes recently came before the Senate Executive Appointments Committee for consideration and was questioned by Republican lawmakers about the current state of IDOC, inmate and correctional officer safety, and other issues plaguing the Department.
“Latoya Hughes was never qualified to lead the Department of Corrections, yet here we are again, another critical agency under Governor Pritzker’s authority being mismanaged by someone clearly unfit for the role,” said Senator Plummer, who serves as the minority spokesperson for the Executive Appointments Committee. “This is a public safety agency where decisions carry life-or-death consequences. But the Administration seems more concerned with political appearances than competence.”
Senator Plummer has been vocal about ongoing systemic issues plaguing the state’s prison system, including confirmed drug-related inmate deaths, rising staff assaults, and unscanned contraband entering through inmate mail. Despite repeated warnings from correctional staff, the Governor continues to push for Hughes’ appointment.
“When I asked how many inmate deaths have occurred this year, Director Hughes couldn’t give me an answer,” said Senator Plummer. “If The Director of Corrections can’t account for the number of deaths in her custody, I’m not sure what more it would take to prove she’s unfit for the job.”
The Senator has also criticized the lack of cooperation with federal immigration authorities and the early release of violent offenders, arguing that these decisions have jeopardized public safety across Illinois.
“Let me be clear, this is yet another JB Pritzker management failure,” said Senator Plummer. “He put the wrong person in charge and refuses to take responsibility—regardless of the consequences. We don’t need more deaths in Illinois because our Governor puts politics ahead of sound public policy.”
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