The Monroe County Jail will evacuate inmates Wednesday to various courtrooms at the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center following reports of mold inside the jail.
A Monroe County Sheriff's Office news release stated it will only be a partial evacuation, and inmates will be moved back to the jail a few hours later.
According to an Aug. 25 news release by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center was first tested for mold after staff reported mild symptoms from mold growth mid-August. VET Environmental Engineering, LLC, collected 76 samples across five floors and 100% of the samples tested positive for fungi, suggesting mold levels were “reasonable.”
Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté decided to treat the mold in the jail through a procedure called “fogging.” This requires the affected areas to remain uninhabited for three hours while a fine mist coats surfaces and reduces mold spores.
“The amount was an acceptable level, and this was just an extra precaution Sheriff Marté wanted to take to ensure the safety of staff as well as our residents,” Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jeff Brown said.
Brown said there will not be any temporary remodeling or improvements done to the courtroom while the inmates are there. All inmates will be divided into rooms based on the cell block they currently reside.
It is unclear how many court hearings will be affected by the mold remediation, Brown told the Indiana Daily Student. The treatment is expected to continue through Thursday but will not require further evacuation.
After Thursday, the press release stated the affected areas of the facility will have been “fully” remediated.
“I am proud of my staff for the creativity and compassion they have shown during this process,” Marté said. “By working together, we are protecting the health of our residents and staff while maintaining dignity and care.”
