The Starke County Commissioners toured the LaGrange County Jail last week. Commissioner Kathy Norem, who is the contact official for the jail, said the LaGrange facility was older than the other three they have visited. Earlier they went to the Marshall, Jasper, and Fulton County jails.
One of the advances the LaGrange County Jail did not have was video conferencing.
On the way back, the Commissioners toured the Elkhart County Jail, which is a 1,000 bed facility. The Commissioners found that this facility did not fit the needs in Starke County. They did see some features the jail has that possibly could be incorporated into the Starke County facility, if and when it is built.
Norem said this completes the jail tours made by the Commissioners along with Sheriff Oscar Cowen. The jail here has been a subject of considerable discussion because of periodic overcrowding and other deficiencies.
