Sheriff wants body scanner for jail

Bartholomew County officials are trying to find a way to pay for a body scanner at the jail. Jail staff have seen several attempts at bringing narcotics and other contraband into the jail, including three recent cases where inmates allegedly attempted to hide contraband in a body cavity. As it stands now, an inmate must be taken to a hospital to be checked when jail staff or a deputy believe they are hiding materials. Local inmates have also been driven to Johnson County to be put through the scanner at the jail there.

Sheriff Matt Myers says he expects it will cost approximately $180,000 to have a body scanner installed at the jail. During Monday night’s meeting of the Bartholomew County Council, he says that $50,000 could be paid for out of the jail’s commissary budget. The remaining amount will need to be found, but council members indicated a willingness to move forward when the proposal comes up at next week’s regular session.

Sheriff Myers says he hopes to have a scanner installed, with staff trained on how to use it, by this July. That is when an old section of the jail is set to be reopened as part of the community’s efforts to fight addiction.