I shot the sheriff…read more.. Continuing our journey along Route 66 to Brookfield, we stopped in Gardner to see this little two-cell jail. This was a nice quick little stop to see a jail that is a relic from the past and that is open to the public. In the little area of the jail, there is a tribute to an old diner, Reverend Christian Christiansen, and an American Legion memorial. Both jail cells are open and interact-able for all your fun photo taking. Each one has a plastic skeleton inside. They must be serving a few life sentences. There is also a guestbook to sign and some Route 66 travel guides to snag, if you want to find more fun stuff to do. The two-cell jail is a fun little 10 minute stop along Route 66. A great place to pay tribute to a few different things and see a relic from the past. If some Route 66 memorabilia is something you are looking to buy, there is a Route 66 shop over and across the street to get: postcards, magnets, stickers, and various other things.

Please don't overlook the restaurant next door to this place which is cool as well and worth…read morechecking out. The jail is really cool, especially the history of this building from pushing the button. You can walk in the jail too and I wouldn't mind if the Gardner, IL Police put me in here for the night as well solely for the nostalgia

Very appreciative of the security provided here and thankful that no weapons (including cell…read morephones) are allowed inside. The area surrounding the location was littered the last time I visited there, so I'll probably be going back to assist with some form of clean up.

By far the worst escape room experience I ever had. No clues or hints anywhere on how to escape…read more The paid actors takes there roles seriously and won't help. I will not return to this place ever!

Go figure, a prison with a 1 star review...seems sort of fitting, doesn't it?…read more I've been visiting an inmate here for several years now, and I have to say that for the most part, this place personifies government workers in Illinois. We are on their time. If it's your first time visiting Stateville, get ready to be denied access, even if you're on the inmate's approved list. It's happened to pretty much everyone that I know. They try to tell you you're not on the list. They tried telling me that maybe he forgot to put his sister down because he put his OTHER sister on the list and he needed to put both of us on there (uh, not the case. My brother may be an idiot for other reasons, but not putting his immediate family on a visitors list so that he could have contact with the outside world and food other than the garbage they serve on the line isn't something that he would do). On multiple occasions, we've been check in (and check in, and searched, and checked in, and checked in one more time, just to make sure that we - two females - didn't switch identities with any of the male inmates) and assigned a visiting table just to wait over an hour and a half for the inmate to come downstairs. Apparently the guards only get the prisoners if they feel like it. The vending machines used to be way overpriced, but I guess enough visitors complained (wrote to their elected officials in Springfield) that the prices are now somewhat reasonable. What hasn't been fixed, however, are the machines themselves. Every time we go, at least one machine is out of order. More often than not, there is little to no food in them (and I use the term "food" very loosely) and/or it's expired (especially the fruit/veggie packs). I've been told that the infrastructure of the actual prison is deteriorating badly, with crumbling walls where daylight can be seen through the cracks (real safe, right?). The prison is filled beyond capacity, and with the recent closing of yet another prison, it's even more so. Correctional Facilities are supposed to be rehabilitative, but I've seen my brother's mental state continually decline as a result of being locked up here as he awaits an appeal (another story for another time). The gangs are pretty fierce, even though they pretty much leave unaffiliated people alone (Neutrons are what they're called), and it's not uncommon for the whole place to go on lockdown when a fight erupts (between rival gang members or sometimes between guards and inmates). With such a savage environment, essentially a walled hole where people to go be forgotten, it's no wonder that there are so many repeat offenders.

They were closed when we stopped by on our travel down Route 66. Even though we only got to see it…read morefrom the outside and for a quick drive around, I'm good with giving 'em a 5. It's every bit like you'd expect from an 'old prison'. It was built in the 1800's and, of course, when checking out the gate where Elwood picked up Jake in the movie Blues Brothers it looked exactly as expected. Even from the outside there's some good photo ops. Probably won't ever be in the area again, but am sure glad we had the opportunity to see it.

Everything about the staff--helpfulness, knowledge, and professionalism--just shines! I chose the…read moreself-guided tour and enjoyed exploring the grounds and buildings all by myself. Parking was plentiful and the East Gate entrance (the ONLY entrance to the grounds) was fairly easy to find. The gift shop, on the other hand, is completely hidden and if not for a helpful staff member, I would have never seen it! Please, museum crew, improve the signage near the gift shop so you aren't losing money. This museum is a delight and I hope all Blues Brothers fans and others can enjoy it for years to come.

Why is it a state run facility run by a handful of employees?????????????????? The inmates cannot…read moreget visitors and are locked down because people are too lazy to work and call in ALL the time and they just don't hire enough employees. Lazy employees are known to not let prisoners out because they just don't feel like dealing with it. I come from 8 hours away just to be told visitation is canceled due to not enough employees so now it costs gas money, time off work, hotel, food, roughly $400-500 each visit just to be turned away, DO BETTER ILLINOIS, THIS IS WHY EVERYONE WANTS TO LEAVE THIS AWFUL STATE, AND, when prisoners have signed up and are doing college classes, make damn sure you have a teacher there for them, 2 weeks without classes because you are short handed??????????? Unacceptable and will be addressed whomever I can get a hold of, write, call, email!!! Start being accountable for yourselves and do better!!!

I cannot believe a facility cannot hire enough staff to manage it. This place cancels visits and…read moreall due to not enough staff , and puts them on lock down . , they need there visits for there family's and to keep there heads straight .Prisoners get kept in cells for long periods without the care they need, due to not enough staff. Something needs to be done.

Evil people who do evil things run this hellhole. My charge was completely absurd and was dropped…read morealmost immediately after I was released. In the 28 hours I was held here: barely any water. unable to eat --the one "meal" they offered I couldn't consume because of a medical condition that causes severe illness when I consume wheat. Harassed and mocked for my gender identity (after an arresting officer unzipped my coat and grabbed my chest to determine my sex). Fellow inmate denied medical attention for symptoms of a concussion after being dropped on her head by arresting officers. Ignored and later mocked for screaming and crying for help for her. Denied necessary medications and then released feeling very ill and barely able to see straight. These guards could not care less who you are or why you are in there. They would literally not care if you drop dead. They are sick people who get off on others' suffering. Shame on them all.

for anyone that messes up and needs to go to jail, this is a place to go…read more this is not a place that you wanna go to and be at. It's got a lot of murderers and people that are in there for bad things. Keep yourself straight and stay out of there.

I recently had jury duty in the "George N. Leighton" criminal courthouse. By the way, Judge…read moreLeighton has a great story of his own and I encourage you all to Google and find out. I saw a few yelpers' reviews on the courthouse itself and their experiences. There was no cafeteria anymore. Instead, there were vending machines, featuring Farmer's Fridge and other generic ones, inside the jurors' waiting room. Overall, the offerings were quite decent and eating surely would make the time go by a bit faster! I did use the bathroom a few times and the janitor came through several times to tidy things up. Fortunately, we were dismissed early due to the defendant' plea deal. To be honest, I would love to be called to the court room and get that "voir dire" process started. Anyway, I was fine either way since it would be a long way traveling back home and traffic wasn't heavy in the late morning/early afternoon. The information video seemed to be updated from the last time I served my first jury duty (sometime 2017), except Judge Timothy C. Evans' introduction filed in the 90's still existed. That part could use some new technology because it didn't sync with the rest of the contents. People couldn't be any nicer! Everyone I talked to was polite. I almost wanted to use the lactation room, as I found out we were going to be dismissed soon. I opted out but the facility would be available for nursing moms and I bet the clerk would be happy to help. For transportation options, CTA bus #94 drops passengers in front of the courtroom and parking lot. Jurors can park for free and there is an instruction on the summon. The Pink Line California station is approximately of a 10-min walk and it seems safe during the day, yet exercise your own discretion.

I was affirmed to be serving jury duty in person at this criminal Court in Chicago. Today, it was…read morean epic subzero day where most schools were closed. Jury duty members and members attending their court date arrived and entered the same entrance across the street from the parking garage. Getting in around 8:30, an hour earlier than the reported time, seemed to be a good idea, however, there was a bit of a lack of efficiency in the way the lines were queued up. If you are attending courts for any reason and you are not in jury duty, you must check your mobile phone or not bring it into the building at all. If you have a summons to be on jury duty, you are allowed to bring in a laptop, tablet, mobile device while the mobile device is officially allowed. There is a Starbucks stand after the metal detectors at entrance. But as the office of the clerk says, that thing is fake. They never opened it. So look at your hopes up. The cafeteria doesn't exist anymore on the first floor, you are relegated to vending machines, one of which is a farmers fridge. On the second and third floor. Floor. You will head to the third floor and spend the majority of your day through 4:30 p.m. I was selected shortly after lunch. At the roll call, your panel number paper is adorned with a red jury member badge. The 30 to 34 people seemed to include four to five panels. We were shepherded down, across and up to another location where the court rooms are. The walk from the third floor jury duty, waiting room to the courtrooms were through a few ornate corridors and stairwells. I suspect this building is pretty cool inside architecturally speaking. The room we were in was circular and the audio was well adjusted. I do not envy the people who have the hold court everyday. The judge asks the same questions to each of the first 28 people who were selected to be in the court room. There are rest rooms in the juror room (if you get picked after the completion of voir dire) or outside of the courtrooms at the exterior edge of the floor. Restrooms are one person at a time. This is the furthest I've participated in jury duty. At the end of the day, which ended about 5pm, I was not selected to be a jurer. The intent of this trial was to last through this Friday, at worst. Pay for the day is $35 USD and parking is free.

One of the better stops on Route 66. It is nicely preserved, clean, organized and very original…read more Several great photo-ops all around and inside the site. There was a very nice gentleman / volunteer who was truly committed to the site providing interesting and helpful information not just about the station, but the surrounding area. It is right on Route 66, not a side trip, so a great spot and one that does not take much time to find.

Cute place for a brief stop off of Rt 66 or I-55. Look for signs for Rt 66 welcome center. Very…read morefriendly employee. There is a car charger and porta potty.