INDIANAPOLIS — The ACLU of Indiana filed a federal class action lawsuit on Friday, July 10, on behalf of two people incarcerated at the Monroe County Jail, challenging chronic overcrowding, deteriorating infrastructure, unsafe living conditions, and the county’s failure to fix problems it has known about for years.
In 2008, the ACLU of Indiana filed a class action challenging conditions at the jail, resulting in a 2009 settlement. The agreement was repeatedly extended while county officials promised a long-term solution. Nearly two decades later, the same problems remain. After the county again failed to move forward with a new facility, the settlement expired and the prior case was dismissed in June 2026, making this new lawsuit necessary.
The lawsuit was filed against the Monroe County Council, Monroe County Commissioners, and Monroe County Sheriff on behalf of all people currently or prospectively confined in the jail. It argues that the conditions violate the Fourteenth Amendment rights of people awaiting trial and the Eighth Amendment rights of those held after conviction.
The more than 40-year-old facility routinely holds more people than it can safely accommodate. Between June 2 and July 3, 2026, the jail held an average of nearly 260 people, which is well above its functional capacity of approximately 229. People confined there face violence caused by the tensions and other issues present in overcrowded jails. They also endure extreme temperatures, broken plumbing, mold, crumbling walls, limited disability access, and failures to safely separate people with different medical and security needs.
“Monroe County officials have known for years that the jail is overcrowded, unsafe, and falling apart,” said Ken Falk, Legal Director at the ACLU of Indiana. “They have had nearly two decades to find a lasting solution, yet people are still being held in unconstitutional conditions that threaten their health and safety. Studies have documented that the jail is dangerous and inadequate, and the Sheriff has been candid about its many problems. However, the Sheriff’s role under Indiana law is limited, and the county officials who could solve this problem have not listened.”
The complaint can be found here.
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