IU study examines effect of COVID-19 on Indiana jails

Terre haute.

Keeping covid-19 out of county jails has become a priority for many communities.

But that task has been "easier said then done".

One of the ways some departments are keeping jails clean is by keeping some inmates out.

News 10 bureau chief gary brian explains what changes knox county has made.

Gar} "a new study released by indiana university found that indiana jails reduced their populations by 27% on average during the pandemic.

One of the facilities participating in the study is right here in knox county."

Researchers looked at the effect of covid-19 on indiana's jail populations and operations.

The study was performed by the center for health and justice research at iu.

Between february and april of 2020... 19 indiana jails saw a decrease of more than 30 percent of their jail population.

That level remained through mid june.

Knox county was one of the surveyed.

The population today remains at 25 percent less than normal capacity.

Knox county law enforcement officials have done this by limiting the amount of people who go to jail.

Sheriff doug vantlin expects the population to begin rising again as those low level crimes begin to be addressed.

He added that knox county is currently working on a project to expand the jail.

This is due to over population in the jail.

Vantlin says he and other law enforcement officials plan to review covid-19 changes that worked.

However he says the expansion is still needed.

"i've been at this profession for thirty years and this is only the first time that i've seen a jail count go down and it was because of the pandemic.

Unfortunately the jail count just, i don't see no letting up."

Gar} "we've placed a link to the study on our website at wthitv.com just click on this story.

In knox county, gary brian news 10."

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