1/12/2022; UPDATED: 1/21/2022
Jail population: 211
Proportions by gender:
are female: 21
are male: 190
Proportions by race:
Black: 109
Hispanic: 8
Persons of a Colonial Complexion: 93
Number of people over 50: 24
Number of inmates sentenced: 38
Number of inmates pretrial (felony): 159
Number of inmates pretrial (misdemeanors): 9
Number of inmates pretrial for drug offenses: 58
Number of out of county residences: 82
Accurate as of January 5th, 2022:
The total number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19: 78
The total number of jail staff who have tested positive for COVID-19: 36
The current number of inmates positive for COVID-19: 65 (as of publication, the Sheriff claims cases are below ten)
The current number of jail staff positive for COVID-19: 2
Total number of inmates vaccinated for COVID-19 by the jail: 118. Last vaccination clinic by jail was 9/20/2021.
Total number of jail staff vaccinated for COVID-19: No records are being kept
The number of current inmates that have been fully vaccinated whether in the jail or on their own: No records are being kept
On December 16th, 2021, McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage announced that a new outbreak of COVID-19 had struck the jail. 26 inmates and six staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the Sheriff, only those who have tested positive have been placed in solitary confinement, though non-essential inmate movement has been limited elsewhere. This is a change from last year when a small outbreak of 8 inmates occurred. Sandage responded with full solitary confinement for all inmates for almost four months.
In a recent WGLT interview, Sandage said, “There’s a lot of people in the jail every day, so it’s hard telling. With the current strain [omicron] going around, a lot of people are asymptomatic, so it’s hard to tell.”
According to data provided by the Sheriff’s department, between November 1st, 2021-December 16th, 2021, 505 people arrived to the jail and 515 people were released. The average population of the jail for this time period was 229 individuals.
| MCDF | 11/1/2021-12/16/2021 |
| Arrivals | 505 |
| Releases | 515 |
| Mean Population Average | 229 |
Since the beginning of the pandemic, all new arrivals were quarantined for 14 days before entering general population. Currently, the jail is following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and has reduced the initial quarantine to 10 days. Incoming inmates are only tested for COVID-19 if they exhibit symptoms. The new omicron COVID-19 variant is less severe (increasing asymptomatic cases) but is more contagious.
Funding should be provided to purchase rapid tests for all new inmates regardless of symptoms. Even if these inmates are released shortly after arriving, a test can help with reporting and inform the individual to quarantine.
According to data provided by the Sheriff’s department, as of December 28th, 2021 the jail had 59 inmates positive with COVID-19.
Yet, on January 3rd, at the McLean County Health Committee meeting, the head of the Jail medical department, Suzanne Scott, told the county board that as of the 29th of December (one day after they reported 59 cases) there were only 3 positive cases. This is a pretty dramatic shift. Of course, the results I received about the 28th was likely from tests performed a few days prior. But, still.
Then, at the Justice Committee meeting the next day, the Sheriff stated they had 5 positive cases currently.
Even more confusing is today I received information from the Sheriff’s Department that on January 5th, 2022, two days after Scott reported positive cases in single digits, 65 inmates tested positive.
As of January 11, 2022, allegedly less than ten inmates are currently positive, according to Sheriff Sandage. Attempts have been made to receive clarifications from both the County and Sheriff’s department but there has been no response as of yet. This article will be updated as new information becomes available.
Sandage announced on December 16th the COVID-19 outbreak. Between the 16th-January 5th, 2022, 197 people were incarcerated in the jail and 176 were released. This is up slightly from the same period last year, though the population average is down this year by 13%.1
| MCDF | 12/16/2021-1/5/2022 |
| Arrivals | 197 |
| Releases | 176 |
| Mean Population Average | 200 |
The last time the jail held a COVID-19 vaccine clinic was in September of 2021. In total, the jail has inoculated a total of 118 people since March 2021. The sheriff has alleged their is vaccine hesitancy amongst inmates, but has provided no information on what–if anything–is being done to combat hesitancy or encourage vaccinations.
Sandage, and most Sheriffs, have frequently complained throughout the pandemic about housing convicted and sentenced inmates who are technically the responsibility of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). IDOC has, again, significantly decreased the number of new inmates they are permitting into state prisons because of COVID-19 outbreaks. As the Omicron variant dramatically increases those infected with COVID-19, IDOC is again limiting intakes.
Sheriff Sandage states the jail is currently holding 44 inmates that have been convicted and sentenced. Sandage says it costs $70 to house an inmate per day. Yet, IDOC is only willing to to reimburse for half of that. McLean County will receive $310,000 in reimbursement money from the state which could take anywhere from sixty to ninety days. The Illinois Sheriff’s Association is considering filing a lawsuit against IDOC over the issue.
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