Supply chain issues are delaying the transfer of inmates to the new Vigo County jail. The new jail between Terre Haute’s Honey Creek Mall and the wastewater treatment plant was supposed to open in July.
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett says it will now likely be sometime in October.
LISTEN TO MORE: Ask The Mayor: Terre Haute’s Bennett on budget, justice reform, new jail
“They can't put the prisoners in there until they know and control the heat and cooling and the fire alarm systems are all working properly,” Bennett said.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop says the same issues are delaying the opening of the county’s new court services building.
In 2019, a federal judge ruled that Vigo County leaders had to build a new jail due to overcrowding at its downtown facility.
Bennett says a bigger jail is only a small part of criminal justice reform.
“There're multiple groups here working on how do we do a better job with those people that are in our jail, and to keep them out of the jail, obviously, is the end. That's the end game,” Bennett said.
The county 9-1-1 center is still in the basement of the current jail. Commissioners have hired a consultant to recommend what to do with the facility.
