By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Kosciusko County’s jail would begin having 24/7 medical coverage next year under a plan proposed by Sheriff Jim Smith.
Smith had been seeking four additional jailers for the 2025 budget proposal, but with a decrease in the jail population in recent months said he thinks two would be sufficient if the council agrees to expand medical coverage to 24 hours a day.
The jail contracts with Quality Correctional Care for medical services.
The expanded coverage would be from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. — a time when the jail sees an influx of offenders.
“With our inmate numbers coming down, we could survive next year on adding two of the four jailers that the wage committee recommended with a caveat that we’re able to get the 24/7 coverage with the medical side of things,” Smith said recently.
Smith is also seeking to make the work release cook full-time and add one additional deputy which would then provide each shift with six deputies and allow for more support on traffic reports and extra patrols.
Kosciusko County Council will continue its budget review Wednesday morning at the county courthouse.
