(Michigan City, IN) - In response to recent jail cell fires which seriously injured inmates, officials at Indiana State Prison are taking steps to prevent such incidents.

 

On Thursday they issued a statement saying access to electrical outlets for inmates is being eliminated. This is only for prisoners in the restricted housing unit. They will still maintain their personal tablets, which will be charged outside of cells. The two recent cell fire incidents were caused by inmates tampering with outlets.

 

The full statement from Indiana State Prison is below:

 

NOTICE: Following repeated incidents of inmates tampering with outlets, we have made the difficult decision to remove their personal electrical access in ISP’s restricted housing unit.

 

Our main priority is the safety of both our staff and those in our custody, and reducing fire hazards is critical. While power to individual cells is disabled, conditions are otherwise largely unchanged in D cell house. The housing unit’s main lights, the ventilation system, and all wall-mounted commercial fans are fully operational. We are in the process of installing additional lighting for improved visibility.

 

Inmates will maintain their personal tablets, which are used for video visits with loved ones and to access entertainment and educational materials. Devices will be charged via a mobile charging cart.

 

Fans purchased from commissary for added comfort (as well as other personal electronics) will be returned to inmates when they complete their disciplinary stay and exit restricted housing. Adjustments will be made as needed while we determine the least restrictive way to keep everyone safe. We appreciate the patience of our community members and their families during this process.