SPRINGFIELD – A bill sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) banning privately owned detention centers was approved by the Senate.

“I’m glad that my Senate colleagues were able to recognize the serious problems caused when detention centers are run for profit and gave this bill enough support to pass,” Peters said. “I look forward to Gov. Pritzker signing this into law and putting an end to this inhumane practice once and for all.”

House Bill 2040 closes a loophole in the already existing ban on private prisons to extend the ban to civil detention centers as well. The bill was filed as a response to a vote the Board of Trustees in Dwight took in March which approved plans to build a 1,200-bed detention facility.

The bill passed through both chambers of the General Assembly and awaits the governor’s signature to become law.