Sheriff Sandage | Zach's Strange Corner of Thought

October 16, 2021October 16, 2021

Sandage Justifies CALLOUS Retaliation Against Inmates

Sheriff Jon Sandage finally responded to news he took access to computer tablets away from inmates. The tablets are provided by Inmate Communication Solutions (ICS) which provides telecommunications services to detention facilities.

Thursday, the county board asked the county to renegotiate the ICS contract with regards to the tablet cost. The board wanted the commission to the county removed and prices for inmates lowered.

Early Friday morning, reports from inside the jail said the inmates were no longer allowed to use them. The Democratic County Board members issued a statement condemning Sandage’s callous decision.

According to the jail, family members who want a refund for putting money on an inmate’s tablet tab can call 866-516-0115.

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October 15, 2021October 15, 2021

Sheriff Retaliates Against Inmates; County Board Responds

McLean County Board Democrats respond to Sheriff’s retaliation.

For Immediate Release, October 15, 2021
Yesterday, the McLean County Board voted 12-6 to table a contract with IC Solutions until it could be renegotiated. We feel that given the 72% the county already makes in commission through inmate phone and video conferencing calls, and given the fact that the 2022 budget has already been drawn up with a projected $200K in revenue from telephone commission, the county does not need to make an extra 25% in commission from tablet usage and fees. We made it very clear last night that we did not want to see the tablets taken away from the inmates, as it is a vital line to the outside world and to their loved ones.
We were very disheartened and shocked today to find out that McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage has taken away these tablets from the inmates. We were not given an adequate explanation as to why he did this, since nothing really has changed in the past 24 hours, except for the contract being tabled for renegotiation. There is very little chance that McLean County attorneys have convened with ICS attorneys to discuss taking the tablets away in the amount of time since the vote happened. So we can only surmise that he is doing this as retaliation for our vote and that he is playing a political game with the inmates and their hardworking families and loved ones as pawns. The Democrats of the McLean County Board have been working for transparent, fair, and humane practices at the McLean County Detention Facility, and the Sheriff, by taking away these tablets, which are a vital lifeline to the outside world, has purposely cut off the inmates from their loved ones, especially during this difficult time. We ask that Sheriff Sandage return the tablets to the inmates immediately as the contract is being renegotiated. There is no reason for him to be using incarcerated inmates and their families as pawns in this political game of his.

The Democrats of the McLean County Board:
Hannah Beer
Sharon Chung
Lea Cline
Elizabeth Johnston
Val Laymon
Jim Rogal
Shayna Watchinski
Benjamin Webb
Laurie Wollrab

McLean County Board stood up loudly against further profiting off of inmates in the local jail. In response, Sheriff retaliates against inmates.

Every board member that spoke against the contract explicitly stated they supported inmates having access to tablets. However, in retaliation for not getting his way, Sheriff Jon Sandage petulantly removed inmate access to tablets. This was his choice. The inmates had already been using the tablets for a month without an updated contract so there’s no reason they couldn’t continue to use them during re-negotiations.

According to the jail, family members who want a refund for putting money on an inmate’s tablet tab can call 866-516-0115 and were told to blame the County Board.

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From BloNo With Love

October 6, 2021October 6, 2021

McLean County Updates For-Profit Jail Contract to Make MORE Money Off Of Human Misery

At today’s McLean County Justice Committee meeting, county board members voted in favor of updating the existing contract with Inmate Communications Solutions, a company that profits off of telecommunications services to correctional facilities. Currently, the County generates 6-figure profit off of this contract.

The update in questions involves the inclusion of tablets that inmates are allowed to use while in their cells. Inmates have access to tablets for music, education, gaming, and more… for a price, of course. It costs inmates $.05 per minute for streaming services. Inmates can send emails at $.25 per email at $.05 a minute while typing. The county makes 25% commission on all streaming revenues and at least 10% revenue on emails. Broke inmates can access Ebooks, educational material, and file grievances. You can all the specifics received via information request from the Sheriff’s department here.

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Stats from the McLean County Jail, accurate as of the August 30th, 2021:

Jail population: 213

Proportions by gender:
24 (11.3%) are female
189 (88.7%) are male

Proportions by race:
105 (49.3%) Black
5 (2.3%) Hispanic
103 (48.4%) Persons of a Colonial Complexion

Number of people over 50: 23

Number of inmates sentenced: 22 (10.3%)
Number of inmates pretrial (felony): 171 (80.3%)
Number of inmates pretrial (property felony): 36 (16.9%)
Number of inmates pretrial (misdemeanors): 11 (5.2%)
Number of inmates pretrial for drug offenses: 46 (30.9%)
Number of out of county residences: 71 (33.3%)

The total number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19: 8
The total number of jail staff who have tested positive for COVID-19: 18
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: 100
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

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June 1, 2021June 1, 2021

Perpetually Perfidious Prevaricator-and-Chief Not Seeking Reelection

The insufferable Sheriff Jon Sandage has announced he will not be seeking re-election for a third term in 2022. Sheriff Sandage was first elected in 2014. He came to the decision after “after extensive thought and discussions with family.

“I have had the honor of serving the citizens of McLean County for 30 years, the last 6 and a half as sheriff, in one of the best departments in the state of Illinois. This decision has not been an easy one as there are still many challenges ahead for our department, and I will face them with the same dedication and vigor as I have throughout my career. I am proud of the progress we have made in my two terms as Sheriff, and this has only been possible because of all the dedicated people I work with.
“I would like to thank my family and friends for their continued support, the citizens for their faith and trust in me and our department, my staff for their hard work and professionals, but most of all, I want to thank my wife and children who have sacrificed in order to allow me to pursue the profession I love.”

More on Sheriff Sandage

From Blono With Love

May 13, 2021June 1, 2021

McLean County Jail Notes

Stats from the McLean County Jail, accurate as of the April 20th, 2021:

Jail population: 243

Proportions by gender:
24 (9.9%) are female
219 (90.12%) are male

Proportions by race:
120 (49.4%) Black
13 (5.6%) Hispanic
109 (44.9%) Person of a Colonial Complexion

Number of people over 50: 25

Number of inmates sentenced: 34 (14%)
Number of inmates pretrial (felony): 198 (81.5%)
Number of inmates pretrial (property felony): 48 (19.8%)
Number of inmates pretrial (misdemeanors): 9 (3.7%)
Number of inmates pretrial for drug offenses: 75 (30.9%)
Number of out of county residences: 68 (28.0%)

The total number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19: 7
The total number of jail staff who have tested positive for COVID-19: 18
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: 64
Total number of jail staff vaccinated for COVID-19: No Records Are Being Kept

For a second month in a row, Sheriff Jon Sandage was a no show at the McLean County Justice Committee meeting May 4th, 2021. Last news out of the jail was March 24th when the national guard was brought in for a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. (Though inmates were eligible for vaccines as early as January 18th.) Only 64 inmates agreed to be vaccinated. They were inoculated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, requiring only 1 dose.

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March 16, 2021May 27, 2021

McLean County Jail: Solitary Confinement & Vaccination Misinformation

Stats from the McLean County Jail, accurate as of the March 3rd:
Jail population: 244

Proportions by gender:
28 (11.5%) are female
216 (88.5%) are male

Proportions by race:
118 (48.4%) Black
9 (3.7%) Hispanic
116 (47.5%) Person of a Colonial Complexion

Number of people over 50: 16

Number of inmates sentenced: 30 (12.3%)
Number of inmates pretrial (felony): 204 (83.6%)
Number of inmates pretrial (property felony): 58 (23.8%)
Number of inmates pretrial (misdemeanors): 6 (2.5%)
Number of inmates pretrial for drug offenses: 79 (32.4%)
Number of out of county residences: 70 (28.7%)

The total number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19: 7
The total number of jail staff who have tested positive for COVID-19: 13
The current number of inmates positive for COVID-19: 0
The current number of jail staff positive for COVID-19: 1

The jail’s COVID mitigation strategy continues to be primarily solitary confinement. Inmates are isolated in their cells 23-hours a day. Sheriff Sandage said that jail inmates were scheduled for COVID vaccinations when the state enters Phase 1c. However, the Illinois Department of Public Health states inmates at all corrections facilities–including county jails–are eligible for the vaccines in Phase 1b. McLean County has been in Phase 1b since January 18th.

The United Nation’s Guidance around imprisonment, called the Mandela Rules, prohibit solitary confinement longer than 15 days unless absolutely necessary. Since December 1st, McLean County Detention Center inmates have spent around 2,415 hours in isolation, a little more than 105 days.

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January 10, 2021May 27, 2021

PreTrial Fairness Act

Read the full article on Money Bail & the Pretrial Fairness Act

Anyone interested in learning more about the Pretrial Fairness Act or how to join the fight to end money bail, should check out this Virtual Townhall scheduled for Saturday, January 16^th, 2021. The virtual town hall will inform our community on the progress being made to end wealth based pretrial detention.

Join us in learning more about pretrial detention, the Pretrial Fairness Act, and what you can do to help end the unjust practice of money bond in Illinois.

Prior registration is required for this event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/131217402026127

Tag: Sheriff Sandage