SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Department of Corrections plans to file a permanent prison mail scanning rule by Dec. 3, but state lawmakers and advocates hope IDOC takes input seriously after months of confusion.

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has held multiple hearings to discuss issues with the mail scanning technology for people trying to correspond with family and attorneys.

IDOC implemented the mail scanning emergency rule on Aug. 14 to prevent drugs from entering facilities. However, the agency did not start scanning mail for prisoners until the end of September. Director Latoya Hughes highlighted the main cause for the delay last month.

"The network is still being built out," Hughes said. "We have begun scanning, but there are some locations within facilit

See Full Page