Money is now appropriated to house Marshall County inmates at another facility.
Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel introduced the overcrowding issue at the jail facility to county officials in 2018. At that time, he reported an increase in the jail population of at least 38 percent from 2017 to 2018 and it continues on a yearly trend. The increase is attributed to law enforcement’s effort to eradicate illegal drugs.
As of Monday morning, the jail population count was at 230. The facility holds 239 beds.
The Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office, Marshall County Community Corrections, and county judges are working on programs to assist in pre-trial efforts to try and move people out of the jail, but many of the inmates await resolutions of their cases in court and cannot afford to bond out of jail.
To alleviate the issue, Sheriff Hassel is seeking permission to house inmates at other facilities. A draft of an intergovernmental agreement is under review by the Marshall County Commissioners and Elkhart County officials.
However, the Marshall County Council members took action Monday morning to unanimously approve an additional appropriation in the Jail Lit Special Purpose fund for $25,000 to house inmates at other county jails. The rate is $40 a day plus all medical costs.
