Some ideas just make too much sense to turn down. Thankfully, the Bartholomew County Council recognized and approved such a proposal recently.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department wanted to purchase a TEK 84 Full Body Scanner to help detect drugs and other contraband that those booked into the jail might try to smuggle in by hiding it in a body cavity. The main reason was for safety.
Over the last three years, the jail has had six overdose cases — including two fatal — because of drugs smuggled in body cavities. Other items, such as small devices or weapons, could be smuggled in that way, too.
A scanner can let jail officials know right away if there is a problem.
Such a scanner isn’t cheap, costing about $180,000. But, the sheriff’s department proposed a creative way to pay for it: use money from its commissary tech fund, which is funded by inmate phone calls.
County council approval was needed, and the seven-member fiscal body unanimously approved the proposal on April 9.
The council approved appropriating $130,000 from local income tax revenue already designated for use in a correctional facility toward the purchase, and the remaining $50,000 will come from commissary funds. The tax money will eventually be replaced by funds obtained from inmates using phone services at jail.
The body scanner could be installed in the jail by the middle of summer, the sheriff’s department said.
That’s good to hear. Ensuring safety in the jail, both for inmates and law enforcement officials, is important. We commend county law enforcement and council officials for finding a way to help ensure that.
