(BOP) - On August 18, 2014, Donald Hudson was announced as the first Warden of the Administrative United States Penitentiary (AUSP) Thomson, Illinois. Director Samuels made the announcement at a community meeting held at the facility where he was accompanied by Senator Richard Durbin and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, North Central Regional Director Paul Laird, Warden Hudson, and other Bureau Executive staff.
Director Samuels noted that Warden Hudson, a 24 year veteran of the Bureau of Prisons, has a wealth of correctional experience, particularly in high security institutions, making him an exceptional leader for the facility. Warden Hudson said he is “ecstatic” to be back in the Midwest. “It’s good for me, and it’s good for my family,” he said.
The Director spoke about the progress of the activation of Thomson, and spoke of how the AUSP supports the Bureau’s public safety mission. When fully activated, Thomson is expected to house 1,900 inmates requiring high security confinement. Three hundred staff are expected to be hired in the first phase of the process. A work cadre of minimum security inmates will be arriving in the coming months and the transfer of high security inmates will likely begin by the end of 2015. Director Samuels emphasized the Bureau of Prisons looks forward to being a good neighbor, employer, and business partner, and a valued member of the local law enforcement community.