Rumors that the Indiana Department of Correction could take over buildings at the Logansport State Hospital have been floating since last summer.
Those rumors have some truth as the DOC admitted last week it could expand the Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility’s treatment unit, which is located on the grounds of the hospital.
The DOC and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction have been in talks spokesmen for both agencies confirmed.
“The DOC is looking at taking over some of the buildings,” said Marcus Barlow, spokesman for the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. “That’s something it is working out with DMHA.
“They want to wait until the patients are transferred to figure out which buildings they have interest in taking.”
DOC spokesman Doug Garrison said the talks are “fairly preliminary.”
“I don’t think we have a time frame. It’s far too preliminary,” he said. “I don’t think anyone could say with any kind of certainty of when something might happen.
“It’s in the discussion phase, and when it bears fruit, we’ll have a better idea of what’s going to happen.”
A recent rumor said the DOC was considering closing the South Bend juvenile facility and bringing those youth to Logansport.
Garrison admitted that South Bend youth could be transferred here — as could others.
“We also have a juvenile population in Pendleton that could be transferred,” he explained.
Approximately 105 juvenile males are in the medium-security facility in South Bend while Pendleton has an average of 242 juvenile males in its maximum-security facility. The state also has a boot camp outside LaPorte.
All of Indiana’s female juvenile population is housed in Madison.
Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility consists of two units — the intake unit on High Street and the treatment unit on the hospital grounds.
All males between the ages of 12 and 18 in the state who are committed to the DOC come through the intake center. A maximum-security facility, youth undergo a 13-day process here which includes a DOC orientation, physical exam as well as educational and risk-and-needs assessments. The process results with the classification of the juveniles to one of the present four DOC facilities.
The treatment unit is home to approximately 136 boys, who are classified low medium and high medium. There are three general population units; a Clean Lifestyle is Freedom Forever Unit (CLIFF), for those who are at risk for methamphetamine and admitted to drug addiction; and a Purposeful Living Units Serve Unit (PLUS) which houses students who have chosen to follow a faith or character based curricula.
The DOC employs 174 people in Logansport —137 in the treatment unit and 37 at the intake center — Garrison said. A number of vacancies have been filled by Logansport State Hospital employees who would have been laid off as a result of the transition plan.
• John Dempsey is the Pharos-Tribune’s associate editor and may be contacted at 574-732-5150 or by e-mail at john.dempsey@pharostribune.com.
Local News
DOC explores expanding juvenile facility
Spokesman says male youth from South Bend, Pendleton could be transferred
- Local News
-
-
Preventing injury
With long hours working in factories, Cass County workers can often acquire muscular injuries and damage to the fingers.
-
Area beats state average on school reading test
Area education administrators are crediting daily reading blocks, regular monitoring throughout the school year and tutoring services for third graders’ above-average performance in a statewide reading test after several schools in the area saw an increase in scores from last year.
-
Garage sale gun buys up
As guns are increasingly being sold by private sellers, police warn sellers to check out the background of the buyers.
-
City continues fighting trash, abandoned vehicles
Code enforcement in Logansport is heating up along with the weather with violation figures already surpassing those of last year.
-
Power out for two hours downtown
Two power outages today cut power to much of Logansport and later to about 500 customers northeast of city limits.
-
Let there be a light
Replacement of a traffic light pole at Third and Market streets should be finished by early next week, according to a representative of the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
Streetscape projects coming downtown
Work is set to begin on the first of five downtown streetscape projects that will replace street lights, dress up sidewalks with decorative blocks and make the city more compatible with regulations stipulated in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
-
Stolen farm pigs taken to market
Forty-four pigs made it to market, but ahead of schedule.
-
Logansport schools plan high-ability summer classes
Logansport students will be solving mysteries, finding treasure and building roller coasters this summer.
-
Forging friendships
A group of 30 Chinese citizens — students, teachers and an education delegate — stayed with families and toured elementary schools in Logansport this week where they observed classes, learned about one another and forged friendships through a recently established cultural exchange program.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
