Proposed law could ease jail overcrowding - MyWabashValley.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – New proposed legislation could help alleviate jail overcrowding issues in our area.
House Bill 1004 would see level six offenders be held in the Indiana Department of Corrections instead of county jails.
Jail overcrowding is issue that many area jails are experience with Vigo County included. Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse said that housing these offenders makes it difficult to house inmates by classification.
“We’re supposed to house by classification and when you don’t have the space it’s really difficult to do that,” Plasse said. “Losing 21 inmates helps you facilitate that especially at the place we have now that’s overcrowded.”
Vigo County is set to have a new jail up and and running by the end of the summer. Plasse stated that although the new jail will have a higher capacity, overcrowding due to housing level six offenders still could pose issues.
“We’ll be in good shape initially but I’m sure as time goes by those beds are going to fill,” Plasse said.
Clay County Sheriff Paul Harden stated that county jails generally weren’t designed for long-term stays. He said that smaller jails aren’t equipped to offer all the necessary programs level six offenders need for rehabilitation.
“Our facilities were not built for some of the larger programs that they’re entitled to,” Harden explained. “It creates quite a burden on the county jails to provide these programs.”
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