School Address: 8500 Supermax Rd Tamms IL 62988
School District: Idjj Sch Dist 428
County: Alexander County
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Tamms Correctional Center was a high-security prison facility located in Tamms, Illinois. It opened in 1998 and was designed to house the state’s most dangerous and disruptive inmates, with a focus on long-term isolation. The facility included a supermax unit where prisoners were held in solitary confinement, often for extended periods, which sparked significant controversy and debates over human rights and the psychological effects of such confinement. Tamms Correctional Center was known for its strict security measures and was intended to minimize inmate interaction to prevent violence and control behavior. However, the conditions and practices at Tamms prompted criticism from human rights organizations, former inmates, and mental health advocates, leading to calls for reform. In early 2013, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced the closure of Tamms as a cost-saving measure and in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding its use of solitary confinement. The facility officially closed in January 2013, and the inmates were transferred to other institutions within the state’s correctional system. The closure also reflected a broader shift towards reevaluating the use of supermax prisons and solitary confinement nationwide.