Starke County Officials Struggle With Jail Budget

June 14, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

Starke County officials are looking at short and long-term ways to shore up operating expenses at the new jail. It has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county. Information shared during last night’s joint meeting of the council and commissioners indicates those recommendations may have been based on flawed information.

At the time the study was done, Starke County was paying Pulaski County to house inmates due to issues with capacity at the facility across from the courthouse in downtown Knox. The staffing analysis performed for Starke County by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association apparently assumed the old jail was adequately staffed and the new facility would have a similar population, based on the discussion during last night’s meeting.

Budget and staffing considerations for the new facility were based on that analysis. In addition to now housing those inmates locally, changes to the state’s felony sentencing guidelines have lower-level felons serving their sentences in the county instead of a state prison. The Department of Correction pays the county a per dem for those inmates, as well as the ones in the pilot therapeutic community drug treatment program. However those payments run about three months in arrears, and the money goes into the county general fund instead of the sheriff’s budget. Meanwhile, the increase in inmate population requires more local resources.

Auditor Kay Chaffins and matron Chris Suprenant are going to work with the State Board of Accounts and see if a separate fund can be set up within the budget to earmark that money for the sheriff’s office.

In the short term the commissioners voted to accept a new contract with NIPSCO for utility services with a rate that will save an estimated $80,000 per year. Longer term solutions include the possible addition of solar panels to further reduce energy costs and the possible addition of a wind turbine. Councilman Brad Hazelton is looking into that possibility, including the availability of grants to offset construction costs.

County officials also want to talk to the judge and prosecutor to ensure sentences fit crimes in order to keep the jail population in check. They’re also hoping for greater utilization of the courtroom at the justice center by both Starke Circuit and Knox City court to save on prisoner transportation.

Additional discussions are expected at Monday’s regularly scheduled joint meeting of the council and commissioners.

Starke County Officials to Discuss Jail Operating Costs

June 13, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

The Starke County Council and Commissioners will meet in special session this evening to discuss the sheriff department budget. Last month the council deferred Sheriff Bill Dulin’s request for an additional appropriation until they can get a handle on expenses at the justice center. The new jail has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county.

Results of an energy audit of the building should be available tonight. A recent change from paid overtime to comp time for full-time jail employees should also save money, but the council noted that won’t help when it comes to part-time hours. Another expense involves the transportation of inmates from the jail east of Knox to the Starke County Courthouse or Knox City Court for proceedings. Depending on the court schedule, more than one jail officer may be required for such trips. The council questioned why the new courtroom at the justice center isn’t used more to reduce travel.

The county is receiving money from the state for Department of Correction inmates housed in the therapeutic community program, but payments are a few months in arrears. When money comes in, it goes into the county general fund and must be transferred into the sheriff’s budget in order to be used.

This evening’s meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. or at the conclusion of an executive session meeting to discuss the hospital lease. Both will take place at the annex building.

Starke County Jail Prepares for D.O.C. Inmates

Posted onFebruary 1, 2016AuthorMary Perren

Officials at the Starke County Jail are preparing for an influx of inmates this week. They are Department of Correction prisoners who have been sentenced to an extensive drug treatment program. Starke County was approved late last year for the state’s first non-prison-based therapeutic community, thanks to the efforts of State Sen. Jim Arnold, Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall and others. Sheriff Bill Dulin says there’s plenty of room in the jail for up to 48 D.O.C. inmates without displacing any local prisoners.

They will be housed in separate cell blocks because of their offense levels and participation in the treatment program, which can last between 8 and 12 months. The program is regional in nature, with inmates from Porter, Starke, LaPorte, St. Joe, Marshall, Pulaski and Fulton Counties participating.

Department of Correction staff will run the class portion of the program, but the Starke County Jail officers will provide security. Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin recently hired Phil Cherry as a therapeutic community coordinator/jail warden. He’s been the jail commander in Pulaski County for the past several years and will serve as a liaison between the county and the state. Dulin also hired Starke County native Nathan Caudill to fill the existing jail commander vacancy. Both have been on the job for about two weeks.

The sheriff is taking a wait-and-see approach before adding more jail officers. He says additional kitchen staff may also be needed.

As for expenses, Dulin says the county already purchased more uniforms, shoes, bedding and toiletries for the new inmates. He says the food bill will also go up as a result of the population spike. Additional medical costs are also anticipated. The state will pay the county $35 per inmate per day to cover the cost of their housing and care.

In addition to the therapeutic community, Dulin is also working with Starke County Community Corrections to offer drug counseling services for in-custody inmates awaiting trial. He says that program will start this spring.