The Indiana Supreme Court is declining to address the question of whether a county sheriff enjoys near-unlimited authority to operate the jail as the sheriff sees fit.
Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr., and the 91 other sheriffs across Indiana, answer to no one when it comes to contracts relating to the county jail and its inmates.
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will be looking to the legislature to help in its battle over who has control to enter into contracts regarding the care of inmates at the Lake County Jail after the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday declined to hear the case.
The Lake County Commissioners are continuing to take no action on contracts inked by Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. that specifically pertain to the Lake County Jail.