Officials close to settling dispute over jail medical plan

VALPARAISO | The Porter County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Dave Lain appear to be reaching a middle ground in a dispute over health care improvements at the jail.

Judge dismisses Porter County jail lawsuit

A federal judge dismissed a Porter County inmate's lawsuit that alleged poor jail conditions, federal court records show.

Rustic Interior Decor of DC's Country Junction in Lowell

A rustic jail motif, including rusty bars and "wanted posters" anchors the side-stage space of the main dance floor of DC's Country Junction in Lowell.

Convicts volunteer to clean up Gary

Robert L. Armstead Sr. was sentenced to two years on a weapons charge, but Gary residents now thank him when they see him working in the community.

Lake Station, family of Portage man reach settlement in federal lawsuit

HAMMOND | Lake Station officials agreed to pay $61,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a man who died in a local hospital after incarceration in the city jail, federal court records show.

State high court won't review tutor's conviction

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Supreme Court will not review the misdemeanor battery conviction of a Munster tutor who inappropriately touched a 5-year-old Portage boy.

Inmate accidentally released from LaPorte County Jail

LAPORTE | A LaPorte County Jail officer has been fired after the third offender since late January was accidentally released.

William Forgey

Dr. William Forgey

Federal judge throws out suit targeting Porter Co. officials

HAMMOND | A federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit that had accused several Porter County Jail officials of mistreating an inmate, records state.

Man missing from Lake County Work-Release program surrenders

CROWN POINT | A Gary man who did not return to the Lake County Work-Release facility Tuesday night surrendered to police without incident Wednesday, police said.

Hope for life after jail, prison

CROWN POINT | Elijah Sloss, 24, of Gary, wants to put his past mistakes behind him for better life choices and work opportunities.

County settles ex-inmate lawsuit

HAMMOND | Lake County officials have agreed to pay $45,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by a former county jail inmate who claims he was stripped and beaten by jail guards in 2006, the county attorney said Tuesday.

Cook Co. Jail first in nation with full-body scanners

Cook County Jail is now the first correctional facility in the nation with full-body scanners able to detect contraband on detainees in seven seconds.

Housing state prisoners is costly to Porter County

According to an Oct. 18 article, an accountant hired by Porter County Sheriff David Lain and Commissioner Bob Harper said it cost $56 per day to house an inmate at the Porter County Jail. It also stated we house an average of 42 state inmates a day, for which we receive only $35 per day.

Sheriff offers details on evidence that led to cop's arrest

JOLIET | Attorneys for exonerated Lynwood police officer Brian Dorian have said he was the victim of a botched investigation by Will County detectives and prosecutors.

Program gives jailed vets clean start

CHICAGO | Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart on Monday unveiled a laundry program at the Cook County Jail that will use inmates instead of outside contractors to wash all clothing.

Mother charged with child endangerment

CHICAGO | A Chicago woman is free on bond after her young children were found wandering near Cook County Jail -- where she was bonding out her husband, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Wednesday.

Lake officials have trouble arresting jail spending

CROWN POINT | Feeding, clothing and medicating Lake County Jail inmates has cost the public tens of millions of dollars during the last decade.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Community-based corrections are a better way

Two eye-opening reports from the well-respected Pew Charitable Trust's Center on the States, "1 in 100: Behind Bars in America" (2008) and "1 in 31: The Long Reach of American Corrections" (2009) raise fundamental questions about what we want our justice system to accomplish.

Schrenker appears not to have enough funds to pay claims

It doesn't appear that former investment manager Marcus Schrenker has enough money to pay all the claims that have been filed against him, his court-appointed receiver told The Times on Friday.