Zach's Strange Corner of Thought
You Made A Wrong Turn Awhile Back!
With a new sheriff, the McLean County Detention Facility faces new challenges in a post-COVID landscape. Replacing the perpetually perfidious Jon Sandage, Matt Lane took the position of Sheriff in December 2023 and is responsible for running the county jail.
| Average Population |
|---|
| 213 |
| Highest Population | Lowest Population |
|---|---|
| 237 (2/12/2023 & 2/17/2023) | 173 (12/23/2022) |
| Average charged with drug offense | Average Age over 50 |
|---|---|
| 56 (26%) | 27 (13%) |
| Total Arrivals | Total Releases |
|---|---|
| 1298 | 1216 |
Even though its abolition is impending, the cash bail system is still wrecking havoc on our communities thanks to mass incarcerationists like States Attorney Don Knapp.
I have a friend, we’ll call him Lenny. In the past three months, Lenny got two DUIs and was arrested. Both times, Lenny bonded out and is awaiting trial.
Jail population: 203
Proportions by gender:
are female: 24
are male: 179
Proportions by race:
Black: 103
Other Minorities: 10
Persons of a Colonial Complexion: 90
Number of people over 50: 18
Number of inmates sentenced: 20
Number of inmates pretrial (felony): 163
Number of inmates pretrial (misdemeanors): 14
Number of Inmates pretrial (other): 6
Number of inmates pretrial for drug offenses: 59
Number of out of county residences: 66
The total number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19: 175
The total number of jail staff who have tested positive for COVID-19: 52
The current number of inmates positive for COVID-19: 0
The current number of jail staff positive for COVID-19: 0
Total number of inmates vaccinated for COVID-19 by the jail: 144 total on either 3/24/21, 6/8/21, 9/20/21, 1/19/22, 1/26/22 or 4/19/22.
The number of inmates with COVID-19 that have required respirators in the jail because of COVID-19 symptoms since August 2020: 0
The number of inmates with COVID-19 that have required hospitalization because of COVID
Mental health care has long been an issue at the McLean County Jail. The County Board famously spent over $40 million to upgrade the jail, ostensibly under the guise of increasing mental health care outcomes. However, based on lawsuits filed against the Sheriff and the testimony of multiple people currently or formerly incarcerated, mental health does not seem to be a priority at the jail.
Several McLean County Republicans, like Sheriff Jon Sandage and District 10 County Board member Chuck Erickson, claim District 7 Board Member Sharon Chung repeatedly, viciously, and with extreme malice attacks the Sheriff every chance she gets. Agitation Rising investigates these claims only to discover the SHOCKING truth!
Video originally posted on District 8 Board Member Shayna Watchinski’s Facebook Page.
Woman alleges her son was infected with MRSA while in McLean County jail, but the jail denied it refusing to test him.
