GREENSBURG – Indiana’s county jails are inspected annually by the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) jail division. The most recent inspection of the Decatur County Jail revealed the facility has shortcomings in staffing and above average inmate population.
The findings show the jail lacks enough personnel to adequately supervise inmates around the clock, the Greensburg Daily News reports.
Inspection data revealed the number of inmates exceed the jail’s capacity for the past two years. The maximum capacity of the jail is sixty-six inmates and there were an additional six on the day of the inspection.
Former Bartholomew County Sheriff Kenny Whipker is the executive liaison in the sheriff and county jail operation, which is part of IDOC’s jail division. He tours nearly 50 southern Indiana jails including Decatur County.
He says jail inspections at other facilities yielded similar results, according to the newspaper.
In the past year the jail has dealt with an inmate death and alleged escape.
Whipker said understaffing many times are a result of funding. In his report, he noted the Decatur County Jail was “well maintained, neat, clean and orderly.”
