Marshall County Commissioners voted Tuesday to gather more information before moving forward on a possible expansion of the county’s jail.
Marshall County has been looking into expanding the jail for over a year. It has 230 beds but has seen at times more than 300 inmates in recent years.
Complicating matters is an ACLU lawsuit against the county seeking relief for the overcrowding. And newly implemented ‘Rule 26’ from the Indiana Supreme Court that says judges should try to keep non-violent offenders out of jail while waiting for trial, even if they can’t afford bond.
Tracy Fox is a local resident against the expansion.
“I hope there’s a more comprehensive look at how to address jail overcrowding because it really isn’t just building more beds or building more rooms, it’s a societal issue we as a community need to tackle,” Fox says.
County attorney Jim Clevenger says the county is considering all options.
“We’re the ones responsible for the building but we’re not responsible for putting people there or letting them out or any of those other things so it’s a tough thing,” Clevenger explains.
The commission is reaching out to Indiana Court Services to advise on the possible expansion and what else can be done to reduce the overcrowding. The commission also voted to advise the County Council to hold off on a final reading of a $20 million bond issue to pay for the jail expansion.