Work done by the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office and Marshall County Community Corrections is working to resolve many low-risk, non-violent felony cases, but it is also working to reduce the overall Marshall County jail population.
Marshall County Community Corrections Director Ward Byers shared in a press release that 132 clients are currently under the supervision of the department, which is 42 less than what is currently housed in the Marshall County Jail. The majority of clients are Level 6 Felony offenders, a direct result of changes to the Indiana Criminal Code in 2014 which keeps low-risk, non-violent offenders in alternative diversion programs in lieu of state and local incarceration.
Prosecutor Nelson Chipman added that his office approved the diversion of 204 misdemeanors in 2018. In 2019, 108 misdemeanors and 30 felonies were diverted, along with 144 misdemeanors and 24 felonies in 2020, and 42 misdemeanors and 6 felonies in 2021 so far.
Chipman stated in a press release that Community Corrections not only provides another way for those convicted to serve out their sentence, but they are also provided with needed rehabilitative services only community supervision agencies can provide. Those programs include the County Drug and Alcohol Program, Smart Recovery, and Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT). Community Corrections also partners with local treatment providers ensure that the substance use disorders and mental health of clients are being addressed.
Efforts will continue to move offenders to diversion programs as allowed, to maintain a low jail population while providing a financial benefit to taxpayers.
