The former Enfield Rehabilitation building was a significant topic of discussion at the White County Board meeting.
White County Sheriff Jordan Weiss brought to the board’s attention all the information he has regarding what is happening behind closed doors.
The new owner of the building, Saiyd Joyce of Wheeling, Illinois, along with a private entity, bought it under a contract with the State of Illinois as a mental health provider. Housing offenders who are on Mandatory Supervised Release.
“They’re going to place, from what I’ve heard, 43 ankle-monitored sex offenders in there. At first, it was going to be sex offenders, and it was going to be adult victim sex offenders, and then it was going to be regular parolees and adult victim sex offenders. DOC and the individual that bought it are not being very forthcoming of information of what exactly they’re doing with that.”
Sheriff Weiss has already been in contact with State Representatives Dave Severin and Patrick Windhorst, as well as State Senator Terri Bryant. Read More at https://www.wrul.com/local-news/what-is-going-on-at-the-former-enfield-rehabilitation-parties-involved-weigh-in
Sayid Joyce still needs an occupancy license, which would be issued through the White County Sheriff’s Department. Weiss stated firmly that he doesn’t issue those licenses; he’s not sure where Joyce would need to be granted one. If, at the end of the day, the license does come from Weiss, he described what he would make sure to do in that situation.
“Each one of them will go through a thorough background check, there is a park right down the road within 500 foot of that place. They can bring them up, but if they have anything related to child sex offenses, I will deny them registry at that place.”
You might be asking yourself, Why here in Southern Illinois? Are these offenders from the area? None of the offenders is from the area. Weiss explained, adding that facilities are running out of places up North to house the individuals. For the question ‘why Southern Illinois?’, speculation suggests that these entities are choosing small towns with little to no law enforcement activity.
The doors to the facility will be locked, but the building will have only a building manager and a nurse on site when needed. Which prompted more concerns from Weiss and members of the board,
“Enfield doesn’t have a cop right now, and when they do, it’s mostly part-time. What, once whoever they bring down here figures out geographically where they’re at, what’s going to stop them from cutting that ankle monitor off, jumping out the window, going right down the road, and stealing somebody’s car? And then now you have a fugitive on the loose. Parole is an hour and a half away, on a good day. The US Marshalls will be two and a half, three hours away.”
Still, Weiss added that a press conference and a town hall meeting in Enfield will be held in the near future, featuring him, Severin, Windhorst, and Bryant, to discuss the outcome and hopefully provide more answers. Enfield isn’t the first small town to experience this, as the same ordeal has occurred in Decatur, Pulaski County, and Mounds, with each place slamming the door shut on the prospect.