SPRINGFIELD - Illinois officials Monday eased restrictions at the state's largest prison, a week after placing the facility on lockdown status because of two violent outbreaks.

Although the Menard Correctional Center near Chester is still technically on lockdown, it is on a lower level, said Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp.

"Basically, there is limited inmate movement and visits are allowed again," Schnapp said.

The prison's 3,500 inmates had been confined to their cells since Oct. 27 after two fights between inmates had to be broken up by guards firing warning shots.

In addition, officials discovered a homemade weapon Oct. 25.

As part of the lockdown, inmate visits were cancelled and prisoners were served meals in their cells, rather than at the dining hall.

Link to Pontiac prison's closing

The upheaval at Menard came as the union representing prison guards and other state employees was fighting to stop Gov. Rod Blagojevich from closing the maximum-security Pontiac Correctional Center.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union said inmates being transferred within the prison system to make room for the displaced Pontiac prisoners are creating unsafe working conditions for employees because of overcrowding.