By C1 Staff
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Despite overcrowding issues and PREA mandates, the Allen County Council has denied the Sheriff’s Department’s request to add nine new officers to the jail.
Financial Director Nicholas Cripe said the facility wanted to be proactive with its staffing, as a new state law going into effect on July 1 would increase the number of inmates at the county jail, according to WANE.
Further, PREA (the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act) going into effect in 2017 would also require the jail add more officers to protect inmates from sexual assault.
One reason the council gave toward their denial was that the department had already been operating with 10 vacancies.
“For the last year and a half they have been 10 officers down, and they don’t really know what they are like for full capacity. So, until they go to full capacity how many officers do they really need?” explained City Council Darren Vogt.
Another issue plaguing the jail in terms of staffing is other areas requesting officers specifically for their department. The jail has been reimbursed for the missing officers, but the positions were never refilled.
The Sheriff’s Department says they will remain in contact with the council over the issue, but the council states that they will reconsider the request next year.