Five charged in jail disturbance

VALPARAISO | Five inmates are being charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after threatening to riot and resisting guards orders to disperser earlier this month.

EDITORIAL: Easing jail crowding is no easy task

As Porter County continues to talk about how to ease crowding at the jail, among the ideas that has come up is to stop taking in federal inmates. But even that idea has its drawbacks.

Action on Porter County jail medical service contract delayed

VALPARAISO | Porter County Sheriff Dave Lain hopes to have a recommendation at the next county commissioners meeting for providing round-the-clock medical service for inmates, but commission President John Evans warned that Lain also better include a recommendation on how to pay for it.

Sheriff: Dropping fed inmates could cost county $1.3 million

VALPARAISO | Porter County Sheriff Dave Lain said ending an agreement prematurely to house federal inmates is not the way for the county to address overcrowding and financial challenges at the jail.

Former Fegely teacher now charged with sex with underage girl

VALPARAISO | The criminal case against former Fegely Middle School teacher Bryan Tyman became more serious Wednesday when he was charged with having a sexual relationship with a former student that began two weeks before her 16th birthday.

Porter County Jail inmates graduate from drug program

VALPARAISO | More than 40 male inmates at the Porter County Jail graduated from the 10-week Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program on Wednesday morning, a program through Porter-Starke Services that has been helping prisoners kick alcohol and drug problems for the past 10 years.

EDITORIAL: Save prison for serious offenses

A recent Indiana Department of Correction report shows Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties are to be commended for their community corrections programs. We concur.

MARK KIESLING: Porter County faces jail crisis head-on

There are just too many darn people in jail.

EDITORIAL: Ease crowding at Porter County Jail

When the Porter County Jail opened a decade ago, it featured a third pod for the eventual day when the jail population would rise to the point of overcrowding. It's time to open that third pod.

Fed study supports need for more jailers

VALPARAISO | Armed with recommendations from a recent federal study, Porter County Sheriff Dave Lain is taking another shot at convincing the Porter County Council to hire additional guards and/or medical personnel for the jail.

EDITORIAL: Dollars aren't only jail security cost

Porter County officials are discussing whether to privatize security at the Porter County Jail and the courthouse. Go ahead and collect the information, but numbers must not be the only criteria used in considering whether privatization makes sense.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Concerted effort could ease jail crowding

The Porter County Jail, as now configured and staffed, is overcrowded. The number of inmates should not be a surprise when case filings and reasons for incarceration are analyzed.

Police: Inmate tried to deal crack in jail

VALPARAISO | A Porter County Jail inmate already facing a series of criminal charges may add drug possession to that list after police allege he was attempting to deal crack cocaine in the jail.

Kenneth Johnson

Kenneth Johnson, 31, of Gary

Jail's medical co-pay requirement questioned

VALPARAISO | Porter County Public Defender Peter Boyles is questioning a decision by the Porter County Jail staff to take money from an indigent client to help pay for his medications.

EDITORIAL: Discuss jail before options are locked in

The Porter County Jail has been overcrowded, so Porter County officials are bringing in the National Institute of Corrections for advice.

EDITORIAL: Discuss jail before options are locked in

Porter County officials are looking at how to ease crowding at the Porter County Jail. Sheriff Dave Lain has been talking about this for several years now. This can't wait.

Man sues Porter County sheriff, jail medical staff over treatment for spider bite

HAMMOND | A federal civil complaint was filed Wednesday by a former inmate at the Porter County Jail who says he did not receive proper medical care for a spider bite.

Porter County turns to feds for help in jail overcrowding

VALPARAISO | Porter County is turning to the federal government for help in tackling overcrowding at its jail.

EDITORIAL: We endorse Evans for commissioner

Probably the hottest race in Porter County this year is is for the Republican nomination for Porter County commissioner in District 3, where incumbent John Evans faces former Commissioner Jim Biggs.