Ind. prison officials seek space solutions

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana is running so short of space in its prisons that it now had only 26 beds available for its worst offenders.

Department of Correction leaders thought their prison-crowding problem would be alleviated when Gov. Mitch Daniels proposed expanding two prisons to add 1,200 beds.

But Democrats who control the Indiana House objected and the republican governor later dropped the idea as a political olive branch.

So prison officials are back to square one, scrambling to find ways to deal with more inmates without more space.

DOC spokesman Doug Garrison said officials are trying to maximize occupancy with the facilities they have. Prison officials say Indiana will not release prisoners early or consider sending inmates out of state.