New study finds jail populations decreased during the height of the pandemic

Overall the study found that Tippecanoe County's jail population shrank by 22 percent during the height of the pandemic.

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A new study out of indiana university found that covid-19 could have a lasting impact on how jails operate.

I spoke with researchers who surveyed 19 indiana county jails ... including tippecanoe county.

Jails across the country underwent some huge changes when the covid-19 pandemic began.

"jails and prisons and incarceration facilities generally were identified you know really early on as risks and potential hotspots for the spread of covid-19."-kevin martyn that caused jails to look at their population..

And ultimately decide who could be released.

"majority of counties the way it worked as judges and prosecutors would get together and sometimes in coordination with sheriffs offices they would make recommendations on who to released."- staci rising according to data from this study during the early stages of the pandemic, jail populations across the country decreased by about 27 percent.

The 19 indiana counties in the studies sampled saw reductions of more than 30 percent.

Tippecanoe county was one of those counties in the survey.

"in the very early going reductions were focused on not violent offenders people who are about to get out on parole anyway."- kevin martyn and while it's unclear if those changes will stick around.

"even if the sheriffs department changed their policies or court rooms such as prosecutors and judges changed their policies it would really take a partnership with police to continue the lower jail populations beyond the pandemic."-staci rising researchers say that some of the changes in protocol like virtual court will likely become permanent.

"it's a lot easier for the sheriffs staff when they don't have to physically transport people from the jail to the court house and back .

I know that sheriffs departments across the state are really hoping that video court sticks around."-staci rising mh news 18 overall the study found that tippecanoe county's jail population shrank by 22 percent during the height of the pandemic.