Delayed releases continuing problem at Marion County Jail

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Two Marion Superior criminal court judges said Friday they continue to be frustrated by delayed releases of arrestees detained after orders have been signed for their release.

Criminal Division 6 Judge Mark Stoner and Criminal Division 8 Judge Amy Jones told the Marion Superior Executive Committee that delayed releases continue despite efforts to improve the processing of release orders by staff at the Marion County Jail.

Stoner noted a case “as recently as this week” in which a person was detained two days after a release order had been signed. Jones said an arrestee recently was held an extra day after a release order from her court.

Stoner said bailiffs in his court have told him “it happens so often they feel like the only way they can deal with it is doing it by paper,” either faxing or delivering release orders. “The duplication staff is doing – it’s just not good,” he said.

Jones said in a recent case jail staff informed her court a release was delayed because an improper code had been entered in a computer system. However, she said an email had been received from the jail confirming receipt of the release order.

“What more do we need to do?” Jones said.

Executive Committee Chairman Judge David Certo said Friday the fresh concerns hadn’t been expressed to him previously.

The problem of delayed releases were raised in November of last year when then-Senior Judge Barbara Collins testified in the judicial discipline case against Marion Superior Judge Kimberly Brown, who ultimately was removed from the bench on almost four dozen judicial misconduct counts.

“There has been this problem forever,” Collins testified as a witness for Brown last year.
 

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