TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – The new Vigo County Jail is nearing its expected completion date.
Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer said that despite the high cost of materials over the course of the pandemic, the project is still within budget and will be completed by March.
“We’re happy to say that the budget is good and that the project is still on time,” Switzer said.
The old jail is currently operating at 100% capacity, and 49 inmates under Vigo County supervision are located at jails outside of Vigo County. Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse said that conditions in the current jail are unacceptable, and that the new jail is much needed.
“It’s been that way for many years and is until we get a new jail,” Plasse said. “But the conditions are a lot better in the new jail.”
Plasse said that he’s eager to get employees in the new jail as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition.
“We can start testing systems and start training our people to make sure everything is working,” Plasse said.
Switzer noted that what happens to the old jail is still unknown.
“We’re still talking about what’s going to happen with the old jail and certainly we’ll be looking for the community’s input on what we do with that later down the road,” Switzer stated.
