Vigo Co. jail hits record high

VIGO CO., Ind. (WTHI) - The Vigo County jail surpassed its maximum and reached a record high this past weekend, resulting in overcrowded jail cells.

Sheriff Greg Ewing, with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department says the jail is crowded and it's the worst it's ever been.

Ewing says as temperatures rise so does the amount of crime.

"This summer has been excessively hot so there are just people whose angers flare as the temperatures go up,” said Ewing.

Ewing says they expect an increase in crime and inmates during summer months but recently the jail hit an all time high.

"We have hit a record of 330 plus over the course of a weekend, and a lot of our numbers increase over the weekend, because obviously the court system isn't working,” said Ewing.

To help cut down on overcrowded cells the jail relies on the court system to thin out the numbers by processing less threatening offenders quicker.

Ewing says, “Somebody that we are afraid of obviously needs to be locked up, and the people that were mad at perhaps need to be put into another program, and not on the backs of the tax payer."

Just because the amount of inmates increase, doesn't mean Ewing has more people working inside the jail.

But in an effort to keep a close watch on a crowded jail, Sheriff Ewing purchased 60 more surveillance cameras to help out his jailers over the past 12 months.

"So we can have more eyes in the facility with less staff. They are very cognitive to keeping an eye on those monitors, so they can see what’s going on so they can curb an event before it starts,” said Ewing.

Ewing says as temperatures continue to rise so will crime, resulting in crowded jail cells.

It’s something officials can't change but will try to be prepared for.

Sheriff Ewing says the jail has seen a trend of overcrowded cells during the summer months for years.

He says he does not see that changing anytime in the near future.