On August 22, 2016, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received the results of an inspection conducted by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) of the Lake County Jail. The detailed inspection of the Lake County Jail took place on June 28, 2016.
The IDOC inspection is conducted on an annual basis. IDOC auditors thoroughly inspect over 330 different categories during the inspection of the jail. The Lake County Jail received passing status in each of the applicable categories.
Several improvements were made over the past year and documented by auditors:
• A new and improved radio system used by correctional employees throughout the jail.
• All corrections officers and corrections command staff are equipped with body-worn cameras.
• An ‘E-Logger’ system is now being used by correctional employees, who check on inmates, versus paper log books.
• An improved camera system is being installed, which includes cameras in the jail housing units.
• An inmate tunnel has been constructed for safer means of transporting inmates to the courthouse for court appearances.
• The jail is in the process of installing ‘Northpointe Classification’ computer software, to convert the classification of jail inmates to a new system, for maintaining classification records and classifying jail inmates.
This year, from January through July, the Lake County Jail housed 540 inmates, on average, on a daily basis, made over 7,000 jail inmate transports for various court hearings, and served over 415,000 meals.
Sheriff Mark Curran said, “The Lake County Sheriff’s Office makes it a top priority to treat jail inmates humanely, fairly, and with respect, while in custody the Lake County Jail. This Illinois Department of Corrections report demonstrates we are doing just that.”
Undersheriff Ray Rose said, “The report issued by the Illinois Department of Corrections displays another validation of the improvements we’ve collectively made at the Lake County Jail. We will continue to raise the bar for the manner in which we conduct business at the jail.”