The decades-old Monroe County jail in Bloomington is in extreme disrepair and at overcapacity.

A 2008 class-action lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Indiana alleges the facility’s lack of space violated inmates’ constitutional rights. In 2011, a private settlement agreement was reached between the organization and the city’s Board of Commissioners. The ACLU of Indiana and board members agreed to pause on legal action if steps were taken to reduce overcrowding.

ACLU Indiana executive director Ken Falk, who toured the facility in November, said that in its current state, determining an inmate’s public safety risk, medical and treatment needs, and housing assignment is impossible.

"There were 47 prisoners - this is according to the jail staff - with serious mental illness," he said. "The jail had only four observation cells. There's only one ADA-compliant cell on the men's side, none on the women's side. There are only two women's units, so it's impossible to classify them."

The County Council must approve any financial expenditures, while the Board of Commissioners is responsible for the facility’s maintenance, according to the Monroe County Correctional Center. The jail design is documented as inefficient, expensive to maintain and a high risk for liability and harm to inmates, staff and visitors.

In 2022, the council agreed to review five potential sites for a 404-bed facility to house 60 mental-health beds and new administrative staff offices. Mounting costs and environmental and infrastructure concerns led to the council's denial of funding for the final choice. An extension of the private settlement agreement was granted, Falk explained, as one way to keep the jail population down.

"As counsel for the class, I can't in good conscience continue to extend this agreement when nothing was happening," he said, "and we agreed that if nothing would happen by April 15, the case would be over, which would allow a whole new case to be filed."

Falk said he believes the Council has taken some steps with the project and would like to see more. He added that if he is not satisfied that more progress is made, further legal action could be taken, including requesting a jail population cap or ensuring compliance with inmates’ constitutional rights.

Source: Public News Service