Indianapolis, IN – As concerns grow over jail overcrowding in Marion County, Sheriff Kerry Forestal is pushing back against claims that the Indianapolis Adult Detention Center has unused bed space, calling those assertions inaccurate and misleading.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Adult Detention Center (ADC) has a physical capacity of 2,985 beds, but its safe operational capacity is capped at roughly 2,400 inmates, or about 80% of total beds. Officials say that buffer is essential to allow for inmate movement tied to maintenance, medical needs, mental health housing, and legally required classification separations.
According to the sheriff’s office, the ADC was funded, designed, and staffed specifically for a population of approximately 2,400 inmates. Staffing models and daily operations were never intended to support full physical capacity, officials said, noting that operating beyond that limit would compromise safety and compliance.
The sheriff also addressed comments attributed to a City-County Council spokesperson, stating the jail’s bed count has been consistent since it opened and was not arbitrarily set by current leadership. Forestal was not sheriff when the facility was built, officials noted.
Sheriff’s officials further emphasized that Indiana Administrative Code requires strict inmate classification, including separation by gender, age, medical condition, co-defendant status, and mental health needs. Those rules often mean beds may appear empty but cannot be filled.
In the statement, the sheriff also criticized Fraternal Order of Police President Rick Snyder, disputing claims that “plenty of beds” are available. Officials said Snyder is not a subject-matter expert in jail design or operations and argued staffing shortages — particularly a reported 200–300 officer deficit at IMPD — should be the primary focus.
Space was reportedly reserved at the Community Justice Campus for up to 1,000 additional beds in the future, though no expansion is currently underway.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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