Henry, Madison counties considering possible shared jail
Officials from two central Indiana counties are considering the possibility of opening a regional jail that they would share.
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Contamination at justice center site concerns judges
After being home to a gas and coke facility for nearly 100 years, the land designated for the new Marion County Community Justice Center has a toxic legacy buried deep in its soil. Judges have asked for a second opinion on the environmental health of the location in the Twin Aire neighborhood of Indianapolis.
Contamination at new Marion County justice center site raising concerns
An independent environmental assessment of the site for the new Marion County jail and courthouse has some judges questioning if the property will pose a health hazard to the people working and visiting the courts, but others are cautioning to not let fear dictate decision-making.
Reversal: Floyd County loses title to criminal justice center over lease dispute
A split Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed the award to Floyd County of the title to its criminal justice center after concluding that the building authority that financed the center never had the authority to agree to certain provisions in its lease with the county.
Officials investigate death of inmate at Elkhart County Jail
Authorities say a 51-year-old man who was under medical care at a northern Indiana jail has died after being found unresponsive in his cell. The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department says Brian Banister was being treated for an illness while being held on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and resisting law enforcement.
ACLU report highlights Indiana’s prison problem
While acknowledging Indiana’s efforts to reform its criminal justice system has slowed the growth of the state’s prison population, a new report by the ACLU of Indiana asserts that additional reforms, including expanded access to treatment for mental health and substance abuse, could reduce the number of incarcerated by 50 percent and save Hoosier taxpayers more than $541 million by 2025.
Officers use OnStar to disable stolen SUV, recapture inmate
The Marion County Sheriff’s Department says it used OnStar technology to track down and disable a stolen vehicle and recapture a jail inmate who escaped custody about an hour earlier Wednesday morning.
Inmate dies after being found unresponsive in jail cell
A 42-year-old inmate has died after being found unresponsive in his northern Indiana jail cell.
South Bend murder suspect convicted after dying in jail
A judge has convicted a man who died in jail after he pleaded guilty to murder in the 1988 beating death of a pregnant South Bend woman.
Indianapolis officials go to market to sell $600M in justice center bonds
Representatives from the city of Indianapolis were in New York City on Thursday selling more than $600 million worth of bonds to investors to fund the new criminal justice center — a milestone in the giant public project.
Lawsuit: St. Joseph County sheriff’s office negligent in inmate death
A federal lawsuit accuses a northern Indiana sheriff’s department of negligence after an inmate who allegedly was suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms killed himself.
Senate panel OKs compensation for the wrongfully convicted
A measure advancing in the Indiana Senate would compensate residents found to have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.
Credit time revocation bill moves to Holcomb’s desk
Community correction program directors caught between a rock and a hard place may get some breathing room if a bill that would allow the revocation of inmates’ credit time gets the governor’s signature.
Allen County Jail offering video instead of in-person visits
The Allen County Jail in Fort Wayne no longer will have face-to-face visits with inmates and instead is offering video chats.
Bill allowing community corrections to revoke credit time advances
An Indiana Supreme Court ruling that directors of community corrections programs are unauthorized to revoke good time credit would be sidestepped under a bill advancing in the Statehouse that would enable directors to make such revocations.
Jennings County escape suspect gets away at courthouse
Authorities are searching for a southern Indiana jail inmate who has escaped from custody. Law enforcement officials say Jennings County Jail inmate Kimlynn Patton escaped Friday in the area of the Jennings County Courthouse in Vernon.
Howard County sending texts to defendants about hearings
A central Indiana county has started sending text messages to criminal defendants to remind them about their upcoming court hearings. Howard County authorities hope the texting service that began in February can hold down the county jail’s population and reduce the resources law enforcement must devote to tracking down people who miss court appearances.
Restoring humanity and dignity to those wrongly convicted
Legislation in the Indiana General Assembly Bill would compensate people who have been exonerated after a wrongful conviction, but only if they don’t sue the state.
Indiana parolees find success, employment after prison
Most people in Indiana’s parole program are finding jobs after their release from prison despite having felony convictions, the program’s director says.
Inmate falls through ceiling trying to escape from Indiana jail
An inmate fell through the ceiling while trying to escape from a jail in Indiana. Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer posted on Facebook that 28-year-old Blaze Ayers bolted from officers and locked himself in a medical room on Monday before making his way into the ceiling.