State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro)
State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro)

A local lawmaker says she has a plan to reopen at least one closed detention center in Southern Illinois.

Republican State Representative Terri Bryant announced two pieces of legislation to reopen the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro.

Protestors took their fight all the way to Springfield, but they weren’t able to save the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro.

Now Bryant is hoping to pump new life into the facility former governor Pat Quinn shut down nearly three years ago, starting with two important pieces of legislation.

But Governor Rauner is trying to cut state costs and his office did not have a comment about the legislation.

Bryant has supported cuts in an effort to save the state money. But she says while this would cost upfront, it would save even more money in the long run .

At Thursday’s press conference in Murphysboro, Bryant also touched on safety issues for workers and inmates. That’s an expensive problem for Illinois, but she says reopening the facility would help by cutting down on overcrowding.

While Bryant is supporting Democrat Brandon Phelps’ effort to save the Hardin County workcamp, Phelps is returning the favor by giving her bipartisan support to revive the Illinois Youth Center.

Both hoping to bring much needed opportunities to a deprived area.