As COVID-19 continues to spread in Indiana jails and prisons, there is growing concern about the recent rise in cases at Vigo County Jail, which was recently reported by the Sheriff at more than 100 cases. Monday, the ACLU of Indiana filed a motion for a status report from the jail, requesting information on the outbreak and medical protocols.
Statement from Jane Henegar, executive director at the ACLU of Indiana:
For the better part of this year, public health officials have sounded alarms that prisons, jails, and detention centers would be hotspots for the spread of COVID-19 and the ACLU of Indiana has called on Indiana officials to reduce the number of people incarcerated in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Successful efforts, across the country, to reduce the number of people incarcerated have resulted from concerted actions by elected officials – prosecutors, judges, legislators, mayors, and correctional authorities – to change laws and to change how new and existing laws are applied. Our elected officials have the power to reduce jail and prison populations. They have the power to save lives.
