427 Emails

Pontiac Correctional Center is a maximum security prison in the
small town of Pontiac, Illinois. It’s the oldest in the state -
founded in 1871 - and has a reputation for being one of the most
violent. There is a guard at Pontiac who some staff praise for
being tough and having their backs. But other staff and people in
the prison say she is known for abuse. In 2019, she was
investigated by the Department of Corrections and State Police.
Investigators had obtained 427 of the guard’s emails, revealing the
conversations she’d had with other staff when it seemed like no one
was looking. This episode is in collaboration with the
podcast Motive, from WBEZ Chicago, hosted by Shannon
Heffernan. Season 4 of Motive investigates the hidden world of big
prisons in small towns. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and
Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice.
Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts:
iTunes.com/CriminalShow. We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads
a Mystery. Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online
shop.  Episode transcripts are posted on our website. Learn
more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices