Regions followed
Mclean County Jail
Introduction
Mclean County Jail is a correctional facility located at 104, W Front Street, Bloomington, Illinois. Established in 1831, Mclean County Jail is known for its major expansion. The jail currently is connected to both the Law and Justice Center and also holds a coroners office underneath the jail. Mclean County is an Unisex facility which holds 381 males and 74 females as of 2024. The jail operations and emergency management agency is overseen by sheriff Matt Lane and Chief deputy Hadley Welsch.
In 2016, Mclean County implemented the frequent User System Engagement and Behavior Health Urgent Care, otherwise known as Mclean County Triage. The jail was also awarded by the Advanced Correctional Healthcare Inc. for their success rates involving overdose revival in 2024. Currently, Mclean County Jail staff strives to cut down on recidivism and keep the community safe.
History
FIRST JAIL
By 1831, Mclean County had a population of 2,000 people. Due to growing populations the commissioners court voted to have a jail implemented by 1832. The first jail was at James Allins home, a former member of the commissioners board. The jail was a two story log cabin with spotty iron work and little to no locks. Inmates who were in jail for debt and petty offenses were held on the second story. Inmates who were incarcerated for more serious crimes were held on the lower level and ‘dungeon’. On July 4, 1836 the first Jail Delivery was recorded. Dick Marrow bought goods from a merchant Benjamin Haines. Marrow refused to pay Haines and later was incarcerated for theft/debt. Marrow was also the first ever recorded escapee of Mclean County Jail. After his escape and recapture, he requested to talk to the sheriff and report weak spots in the jail. J. R. & R Fell were hired shortly after to do iron work for the jail. Making stronger iron bars, handcuffs, and ankle locks. While the handcuffs and ankle locks were mildly successful, the fault for continued escapes is on the Log Chains. Log chains were used as additional fastening for doors. Strips of iron put in place from ceiling to lower levels of the jail. In 1837, the commissioners board voted that the jail was unfit and ineffective. In result, some inmates were sent to serve their sentence at Tazewell County Jail, while others remained guarded at the Old Jail.
July 6, 1839, commissioners board entered a contract with Dr. Isaac Barker for a new jail.
SECOND JAIL
Population grew to 6,565 by 1839; consequently the commissioners board deemed it necessary for another jail. The second jail was built on the Southwest corner of Center and Market Street in Bloomington, Illinois. Construction of the jail was of a dwelling house, one window per gable. An agreement was drawn July 6, 1839. Later, in December 1839, a supplementary contract was drawn.
Mclean County was a 12 inch brick foundation, going 34ft West, 14Ft North and South. To enter the jail one must go through the double door facing South. The first entrance was a 3 inch thick heavy oak door. Guards would utilize the door's brass knob as a shining mark. The inner door was a heavy bar iron crossed with multiple large locks. Another entry was a ladder that gave access to the second story, and also the attic which held firestone heaters. Including the dungeon, Mclean County was a 3 story building. The ground floor housed 2 rooms, each 14ft square with a 6ft halfway between both. Every written contract thus far has always called for a 12ft pit, lined with brick, as a lavatory. Doors on the dungeon rooms were filled with penny nails reaching 10ft high. Many of the logs that were used in the first jail were used to construct the 2nd jail. The original entrance doors were similar until weatherboarding was applied around the jail. The second jail was in service until 1849, until the 3rd jail on Northwest was ready for residency.
THIRD JAIL
Mclean County Commissioners board contracted with William F. Flag on August 31, 1848, for a new jail costing $2,216. Facing West on Center St. laid a 2 story brick building with windows everywhere but the west view. Later, in 1851 a contract was signed and Bloomington Normal no longer wanted to share the jail with Tazwell County. In result, a $1,500 contract was signed to give Mclean County full excess to the jail. Lower floors were used for criminals. Each cell was 15.5ft by 12ft, surrounded by 12ftx12ft square timbers. One sixteenth inch iron casting covered all walls, ceilings, floors, and door jambs(locks). Ceilings were oak wood, and were nailed 4 times per beam. 'Poor debtors' were held on the on the upper levels. In contrast with the lower floors; the upper had no iron castings between log and oak. The jail was very consistent in terms on interior. Each cell has a 2 inch thick door, with a small diamond opening used to give inmates food. A door cover fastened over each diamond. Every cell had a straw bed and sheets, pail of water and dipper, occasionally a rocking chair, and a 12ft pit used as a lavatory. Every room in this jail was heated by grates. For 30 years, the sheriff office remained in this jail until the courthouse was completed in 1878.
Fourth Jail
The fourth Mclean County jail was erected in 1857 on lot 1 block 35 facing East on Center St. This building can still be seen in current day. Allin Gridleys original jail was torn down to add a 32 by 42 ft sheriffs office that connected to the main jail from the West. Double doors would be found in the jailers office. Barred iron doors connecting to the jail and a wooden door entering the sheriffs office. The jail was one story 32ft by 26ft wide North and South on Market St.Costing $13,150 in total for building. All 7 cells consisted of an iron bunk, straw mattresses /bedding. The sherrifs residence has 3 cells that were used for women. Open ventilation can be seen throughout the jail. Also a water clost in the northwest corner consisting of a lavatory, all pipes connected to sewage. This building was considers hopeless just as the multiple jails due to rapid population growth. In 1857 the population for Bloomington was 22,000, in 1860 28,772, in 1870 53,98. This jail orginally was only meant to hold 10 inmates, however within the first year they held rouglt 40 inmates. George Perrin Davis, chairmen of the Public Committee of Public Buildings condemed further use by 1881.
FIFTH JAIL
McLean County built the final jail in 1882. Totally in cost $72,000. This jail is 100ft on Madison st by 198 on Monroe st. 104 W Front St, Bloomington, IL 61701. The jail consisted of a sheriffs residence 68ft by 55ft. With the main jail in the rear of the building. The jail consisted of 2 stories. The 1st floor had 4 cells that mainly held men. As well as a jailers office, large rear hall, reception room, sitting room, bedroom, pantry and kitchen. The second floor held 4 cells that held women, as well as temporary holding for the insane. The second floor also had 4 chambers, a hospital, bathroom, storage rooms, and closets. The cell rooms are 44.6 ft in length east to west, 43.3ft wide, and 26ft tall.
General Fund
Allocation of Funds
-Mclean County Jail gets their funds from the Illinois General Fund. This fund is paid by citizens of Mclean county through sales tax, income tax, property tax, fines, fees, and community reimbursements. Citizens also fund Arrestees Medical Costs, Crime Laboratory, Sheriff Police Vehicles, Sheriff Training Reimbursement, Local Law Drug Enforcement, Sheriff Commissary, Federal Law Enforcement Treasury, and the Cornerers fee. In 2025 the general fund totaled $137 million dollars for Mclean County. Overall Court Services total in $2,035,650.00 for 2025, that is about 105,474.093 for both inmates and lawyers. (Math based off of max inmate capacity). Staffing accounts for 75% of the major costs. It is a priority for the staffing needs to be met due to the adversity they face within the county jail, and also the state legislation. Now for budgeting correctional officers are working in sections. Each floor requires a correctional officer staffed 24/7. There is a graph showing each position, starting with superindendent making $102,164 per year, and ending with the receptionist who makes 37,611. Overall the staffing budget totals at $4,059,245. However, they do an estimate budget based on number of beds, and the number of beds they have should correlate with the number of staff. The estimated budget for 200 beds and a full staff totals at $5,193,932. The cost of maintenance now is 250,000. Estimated cost with 200 beds is, $475,00. Food services at the jail are $1.32 per meal; totaling annually $319,504. Other operational costs such as Medical Care, and transportation totals at 1,437,056
QUALITY OF LIFE
In 2019 McLean County Jail renovated the jail for a total of $40 million dollars. These renovations were aimed to improve security for inmates and staff, improve care for the mentally ill, and prevent further overcrowding. To address the issue of inadequate care of the mentally ill, McLean County Jail partnered with FUSE. Which identifies individuals with chronic mental health issues and provide psychiatric treatment rather then sending them to jail. McLean county also updated their technology, adding automatic cell control, as well as videoconference monitors, and jail rounds recorded through automation. The jail has also added 40 new beds, now totaling 440 beds.
INTAKE/OUTAKE
POST PRISON RESOURCES
CONTENTS
REFRENCES
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“Allin, James.” McLean County Museum of History, mchistory.org/research/biographies/allin-james. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
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Brady-Lunny, Edith, and Lyndsay Jones. “No Cash Bail Brings Heavier Workloads and Fewer Inmates to McLean County.” WGLT, WGLT, 15 Mar. 2024, www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-03-14/no-cash-bail-brings-heavier-workloads-and-fewer-inmates-to-mclean-county.
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“County Financial Reports.” County Financial Reports | McLean County, IL - Official Website, www.mcleancountyil.gov/651/County-Financial-Reports. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
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“Evolution of the Jail of McLean County, Illinois : Prince, Ezra M. (Ezra Morton), 1831-1908 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Bloomington, Ill. : Pantagraph Print. and Stationery Co., 1 Jan. 1899, archive.org/details/evolutionofjailo00prin/page/4/mode/1up.
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20-090-9004 Mclean County Jail (Findings, with Response), gac.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gac/hra/hrareports/public-report-for-posting-mclean-county-jail-20-090-9004.pdf. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
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20-090-9004 Mclean County Jail (Findings, with Response), gac.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gac/hra/hrareports/public-report-for-posting-mclean-county-jail-20-090-9004.pdf. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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McLean County Regional Planning Commission. “Economic Development: MCRPC Plans & Studies.” McLean County Regional Planning Commission, mcplan.org/plans-and-studies/economic-development. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
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“McLean County Government Organizational Structure.” McLean County Government Organizational Structure | McLean County, IL - Official Website, www.mcleancountyil.gov/1622/McLean-County-Government-Organizational-#:~:text=The%20Emergency%20Management%20Agency%20and,oversight%20by%20the%20Circuit%20Court. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
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OpenGov. Fund Descriptions, stories.opengov.com/dupageil/published/KY1cTAO4g. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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“Press-Release.” Illinois.Gov, www.illinois.gov/news/press-release.29750.html. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
