Starke County Jail Upgrades Security Equipment, Video Arraignment System Installed

Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

Several upgrades are in the works for the Starke County Jail. The Commissioners approved a bid this week for the tear off and installation of a new roof on the Jail and the Board members will also be reviewing bids to replace the HVAC system at the Jail during their meeting on Monday.

One recent upgrade has helped the operation of the jail and the courts. Here is Sheriff Oscar Cowen:

“The Commissioners approved putting in a new security camera system which is becoming a great asset to the Starke County Jail,” said Sheriff Oscar Cowen. “I believe Knox City Court and Starke County Circuit Court helped put together the monies to buy a video arraignment system. What that means is for the inmates’ arraignments, we no longer have to take them out of the jail, we can just put them in front of the camera, and the Judge and the Prosecutors can talk to them via audio and video. That’s just one less risk for the inmates and for our jailers coming out on the streets.”