Marion County Sheriff John Layton angrily defended his office against a Federal survey that claimed that the Marion County Jail’s annex had a very high level of incidents of sexual abuse of inmates by jail personnel of any county or city jail in the country. The Indianapolis Star reported over the weekend that a report by the Justice Department claimed that the Marion County Jail had the second highest incidents of inmate sexual abuse. Only the Ripley County Jail in southwestern Indiana had higher incidences. Sheriff Layton blasted the report in a live Afternoons with Amos interview. The Sheriff said that despite the survey conducted by a private research firm for the Justice Department, no complaints had been brought to his department’s attention. The Sheriff insisted that if incidents were brought to his attention they would promptly investigated and if his staff was at fault they would be fired. Sheriff Layton questioned the credibility of the survey which was conducted in the Jail Annex in 2011. Sheriff Layton told Amos and listeners that the Annex has been changed into a facility for women inmates awaiting trial or serving local sentences. The Jail Annex used to be known as the “lock-up” before Marion County created an Arrestee Processing Center several blocks away several years ago. In the interview Sheriff Layton also commented on the signing by Governor Mike Pence of the controversial Power Grab Law which gives the City Controller oversight of co9unty elected officials budget, including the Sheriff. When asked if legal action might be planned about what some feel is an unconstitutional law, Sheriff Layton wouldn’t directly comment, but Sheriff’s Department Attorney Kevin Murray strongly hinted that action might be taken. The Sheriff also took calls of concerns from several listeners. Click the Arrow to hear the Full Interview with Marion County Sheriff John Layton and Kevin Murray with Amos. Runs 33 Minutes ©2013 WTLC/Radio One.
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