Shifting Inmate Population Prompts Operational Changes

INDIANAPOLIS – A shift in the demographics of inmates in Indiana has forced the Department of Corrections to change the way some of its facilities are operated. The Indianapolis Juvenile facility, which was the Indiana Girls School for several years, will now also house juvenile males. The Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility, which was the Indiana Boys School, will now house adult male inmates who have nearly completed their sentences.

The two juvenile facilities have seen a decline in wards because more juveniles are being sent to local facilities and programs. Juvenile correctional facilities have already been closed in Bloomington and Fort Wayne. However, the state’s adult inmate population has steadily increased. This summer the total adult population hovered around 23,000 inmates. The population is expected to increase to nearly 27,000 inmates in three years.

Boys and girls at the Indianapolis Juvenile Facility will be housed in buildings separated by fences that will prevent the two sexes from interacting. Additional security cameras will also be installed at the facility. The renovations will not require additional funding and the facility should be ready to house both males and females by the end of the year.

Only minor changes are needed to convert the Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility into an adult facility. The facility will be renamed Plainfield Educational Reentry Facility and it will include services for inmates preparing for release, including post-release housing and employment resources.