ACLU issues update saying Allen County Jail ‘far exceeds’ inmate capacity

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – The ACLU of Indiana has filed an updated report on its request to release inmates from the Allen County Jail as plans to build a new facility have been put on hold.

READ MORE | 'Dead on the brink': New Allen County jail put on hold while judge decides fate of courthouse

In 2022, a federal judge ordered the Allen County Sheriff to fix several deficiencies at the county jail, including overcrowding, understaffing and the treatment of inmates. Allen County commissioners said they want to build a new jail to adequately address these problems.

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Earlier this year, the ACLU said it would push for the release of some inmates if the current prison remained overcrowded. In early July, the organization released an update on the issue, saying that while the prison population had decreased, it was still “unacceptably high.”

The ACLU's latest report on Friday said the prison population has declined since July, but it also said the prison's inmate population still “far exceeds” its capacity.

They say the prison is overcrowded if it houses more than 586 to 622 inmates and about 80 to 85 percent of the 732 beds are occupied.

The ACLU writes that the current lower prison population is due in part to the Allen County Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council contacting Governor Holcomb to request that he expedite the transfer of convicted inmates to the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC).

Because of this, they say, IDOC has transferred more prisoners from the Allen County Jail over the past month than it normally would. They also say they believe the jail is not currently transferring prisoners to other county jails.

The 21Alive News team has reached out to the ACLU to ask if they will indeed seek a release order for the prisoners, as prison populations remain above capacity.

The group wrote in its complaint that it wanted to seek “all appropriate relief” in the matter.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

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