Counties across the state are facing issues related to jail overcrowding and the huge financial costs associated with housing more inmates.

Jail overcrowding can leave inmates cramped and lead to security problems for law enforcement.

In recent years, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has filed lawsuits alleging poor jail conditions caused by overcrowding including suits in Monroe and Vigo counties.

As a result of overcrowding, counties often have to scramble to find the money to pay for expansions, new jails or to employ more personnel. At the same time, many jails pay to house inmates outside of the county as a short-term solution.

This week on Noon Edition, our panelists discussed jail overcrowding and the issues it poses for law enforcement across the state.

Join hosts Bob Zaltsberg and Sara Wittmeyer as they explored how the state's county jails became so overcrowded and what solutions are being discussed to solve the issue.

Noon Edition airs on Fridays at 12 p.m. on WFIU

Guests:

Sen. Jim Merritt, (R-Indianapolis)

Bill Wilson, Jail Services Coordinator, Indiana Sheriff's Association

Mark Heirbrandt, Hamilton County Commissioner

Duane Burgess, Jail Commander, Johnson County

Conversation: Jail Overcrowding

Indiana’s county jails are over capacity. Rising inmate populations and a lack of sufficient funds have caused counties across the state to struggle with how to balance inmate welfare and security.

Jail Services Coordinator with the Indiana Sheriff's Association, Bill Wilson says upwards of 40-45 percent of jails across the state are dealing with issues of overcrowding.

Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt serves on the board of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners. He says he brought up the issue of jail overcrowding at their annual conference last year.

"I asked the question as I represent the east-central district. I asked them, 'How many of you are planning, building on, or building a new jail? Could you raise your hands?' Every single one of these county commissioners in that district raised their hands," he says.

Duane Burgess says in Johnson County where serves as Jail Commander, they are about 75 inmates over capacity. Heirbrandt says they currently have 400 inmates in the Hamilton County jail although it was only built to accommodate about 300.

Our panelists says the costs begin to add up as jails become increasingly more over capacity.

"When you have overcrowding, you know, your meals, you have to go back and ask for more money for the budget. Your medical expenses are going to increase," Burgess says. "Clothing, mattresses, you have people sleeping on the floor in boats [plastic trays that can be placed on floor and hold mattresses], so it's just a never-ending battle that you're going to have to always deal with."

Heirbrandt says their county just began a expansion of their jail to add 120 additional beds. They're already planning a second phase of the project to add another 156 beds.

While some counties uses tax increases to fund expansions or new jails, many in local government are looking to the state legislature to provide more funding.

The state only pays jails $35 a day to house Level 6 felons. Those felons have non-violent criminal charges. County jails started housing them in 2014 after a change in criminal code. Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianaplois) understands counties' concerns.

He says a measure that would give counties more funding to house those felons will be part of a fiscal summer study committee. He also acknowledges more action can and should be taken to solve the issue in the long-term.

"I think you're going to see the legislature continually, we don't want local government to be suffering here, that's exactly wrong. And I think you're going to see the legislature react."