Menard Correctional Center
Menard Correctional Center, known prior to 1970 as Southern Illinois Penitentiary, is an Illinois state prison located in the town of Chester in Randolph County, Illinois. It houses maximum-security and high medium-security adult males. The average daily population as of 2007 is 3,410.
| Location | 1096 1350th Street Chester, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°54′43″N 89°50′31″W |
| Status | Open |
| Security class | Maximum |
| Capacity | 3,861 |
| Opened | 1878 |
| Managed by | Illinois Department of Corrections |
Menard Correctional Center opened in March 1878; it is the second oldest operating prison in Illinois, and, by a large margin, the state's largest prison. Menard once housed death row; however, on January 10, 2003, the Condemned Unit closed when then Governor George Ryan granted clemency to all Illinois death row inmates. It is a part of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Menard Correctional Center's average prisoner age is 34 years old. Each inmate's average annual cost totals as of fiscal year 2018 $27,364.