COLUMBUS – The Bartholomew County Jail inmates have all been moved into the new section of the jail as a way to increase efficiency and safety, according to Sheriff Chris Lane.
Sheriff Lane says the move of 48 inmates will eliminate the need for corrections officers to be spread over a larger area making it more efficient to manage day-to-day operations. It will also reduce the amount of overtime being worked by corrections staff and hopefully improve the work-life balance of jail officers, helping relieve some of the pressures leading to staffing problems.
Sheriff Lane has explained to county officials that it is hard to find and retain jail officers and the jail has been consistently running below-required staffing levels.
While the inmates are relocated, the department will work to improve the unused older jail pods and cells, so the space will be available for when the jail population grows. It will also allow for the completion of an HVAC renovation project while providing relief to inmates from the summer heat.
“The drug treatment programs offered by the jail will not be affected by this change, we realize the importance of these programs and they were a priority in this decision-making process,” said Sheriff Lane. “This move will allow us to operate more efficiently reducing the cost to the taxpayer and making it more effective for our employees to provide these services.”
