Illinois Prisons Head Out, No Replacement Named

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The director of Illinois prisons is out, but Gov. Bruce Rauner hasn't yet named a permanent replacement.

Rauner has withdrawn his temporary appointment of S.A. "Tony" Godinez (goh-DEEH'-nehz) as head of the Illinois Department of Corrections without explaining why. Godinez had stayed on since announcing his retirement in December.

The Republican governor has yet to publicly announce a permanent director for the department overseeing about 48,000 prisoners. Rauner's office says Bryan Glecker of Springfield will serve as acting director through March 16.

Godinez has run the prisons since May 2011 after former Gov. Pat Quinn hired him to take over following a botched inmate early-release plan.

Rauner on Tuesday also announced the names of 27 members of a commission tasked with reducing the state's inmate population.