July 15, 2013

Jail population at highest point in 2013

The number of people in jail typically peaks in the summer. In 2013, it reached it's highest point (2,371) on July 15. This chart shows the average jail population each month in pre-pandemic years (2013-2019). It is indexed so the annual average for each year is 100. On average, the jail population rose by 4 points between April and July and fell by 6 points between September and December.

October 2016

Indiana Supreme Court proposes bail reforms

The proposed rule change, known as Criminal Rule 26, states that if "an arrestee does not present a substantial risk of flight or danger to themselves or others, the court should release the arrestee without money bail or surety." This excludes people charged with murder or treason, or people already on pre-trial release or probation. To determine "substantial risk," the rule would require an "evidence-based risk assessment" to be performed on people who are arrested.

May 23, 2017

Jail population peaks

At 2,697, the number of jailed people is higher than other day between 2013 and 2021. That is 6% over the combined jail system capacity of 2,500.

August 1, 2017

Mobile Crisis Assistance Teams (MCAT) Pilot implemented as an IMPD initiative

Four MCAT teams, consisting of a police officer, a paramedic, and licensed mental health professional trained in crisis response, began responding to 911 calls in IMPD's East District. The goal is to divert people from jail and into mental health and social services. According to IU's Public Policy Institute, "MCAT transported a person to jail in less than 2% of all responses during the pilot."

November 2018

Marion County pilots pre-trial risk assessments

Pre-trial risk assessments are structured interviews with individuals who are arrested to predict their likelihood of missing court hearings or committing further crimes. Low-risk individuals may be released without bond and with monitoring or home detention. Assessments began in some Indiana counties in 2016. Assessments use the Indiana Risk Assessment System, which is based on the Ohio Risk Assessment System. Marion County began piloting the approach in 2018.

May 30, 2019

Eskanazi expands MCAT program

Eskanazi Health receives a $1.3 million grant to expand the MCAT program. The program is a partnership between Eskanazi and IMPD.

September 2019

Full pre-trial risk assessment program begins in Marion County

Marion County expanded pre-trial risk assessments to all eligible arestees (misdemeanors and low-level, L6 felonies) after booking. The increased workload required 12 new full-time probation officers. The program was adopted statewide in January 2020.

January 1, 2020

Criminal Rule 26 goes into effect

The rule requires probation offices to perform pre-trial risk assessments to determine if people who are arrested will be released without money bail.

April 22, 2020

Jail population falls significantly

Due to the pandemic, the jail population is lower than at anytime since 1998. This stems from judges and prosecutors deciding to release some people with low-level charges or people awaiting trial, police issuing summons rather than arrests, and a drop in violent crime.

October 2020

Indianapolis City-County Council passes police budget expansion

The 2021 municipal budget grows the IMPD budget by 2% and includes an $8 million expansion of the MCAT program. In public hearings about the budget, some sought to reinvest resources in communities and social services rather than in IMPD, or sought to reform the MCAT program by removing police officers from the crisis response teams. In March 2022, Mayor Joe Hogsett pledged to fund a pilot program with crisis teams that do not include a police officer "as early as the next budget in 2023" according to the Indianapolis Recorder.

May 31, 2021

Jail population returns to pre-pandemic level

2,196 people are in jail, slightly more than on March 10, 2020.

July 21, 2021

As of this date, 2,773 cases supervised under pre-trial risk assessment

GPS is the most common form of surveillance for these individuals.