MCSO: Mold remediation leads to evacuation of Monroe County Jail

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Monroe County inmates will be in the courtroom areas of the county’s justice center on Wednesday as the county works to remediate minor amounts of mold inside the jail facility.

According to a news release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, VET Environmental Engineering, the company contracted by the county to test its justice center, reported finding “minor amounts of mold” inside the jail.

“In some cases, only single spores were detected,” the release said. “Laboratory analytical results indicate that the mold was present at ‘acceptable levels.'”

Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté decided to proceed with the remediation of the mold through a fogging process. The release said this required the impacted areas to remain uninhabited for three hours, leading to the evacuation of portions of the jail.

The office made the decision to temporarily house jail residents in the courtroom areas of the Monroe County Justice Center while the remediation occurs, instead of transporting more than 200 residents to other Central Indiana jails.

Officials said in the release that this decision allows residents to remain in Monroe County while the work is conducted. The partial evacuation will occur on Wednesday.

“I am proud of my staff for the creativity and compassion they have shown during this process,” Marté said. “By working together, we are protecting the health of our residents and staff while maintaining dignity and care. I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to our Judges, the Clerk’s Office, the Prosecutor’s Office, the County Council and the Board of Commissioners for their cooperation and assistance throughout this process. This is another example of Monroe County stepping up to meet challenges with both responsibility and compassion.”

The release said that the process is expected to continue through Thursday. However, Thursday’s remediation “will not require evacuation” due to residents being able to be relocated internally.

“Once completed, the affected areas of the facility will have been fully remediated, including the laundering of linens and thorough wipe-down of all hard surfaces, ensuring a clean environment for residents and staff alike,” the release said.