Allen County Sheriff Troy Hershberger

After the ACLU filed a motion for a three-judge panel to set population levels at the Allen County Jail, Sheriff Troy Hershberger clarified what a prisoner-release means

With funding packages approved and conditions stabilizing in the existing jail, both sides agree another formal in-person status conference may not be necessary.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs in a federal case challenging conditions at the Allen County Jail say they are “profoundly concerned” by the Allen County Council’s unwillingness to give the Allen County Commissioners the money needed to start the jail project.

Allen County Sheriff Troy Hershberger made the report to the U.S. District Court earlier this week, a requirement of a federal lawsuit filed in 2020 by the ACLU on behalf of inmates.

In a letter dated Tuesday, the commissioners urged the council to adopt the local income tax rate to fund the $300 million jail ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline.

Superior Court Judge Fran Gull says that moving it completely away from the center of the criminal justice system is costly and potentially dangerous.

At a federal court hearing on the status of the Allen County Jail, U.S. District Judge Damon R. Leichty warned "the people won't like the answer" if county officials do not fund a solution to the constitutionally deficient Allen County Jail.

Allen County is increasing its staff at the county jail again after the County Council approved payroll funding for five new officers. Chronic understaffing was one of the issues tackled in the federal court order concerning jail issues.

The request to take depositions comes before the next hearing on the federal court order addressing jail overcrowding at the Allen County Jail. The council recently voted down a proposed funding structure for a new jail that the county says is the way to correct the overcrowding and other issues.

The county was commended for the progress.