St. Joseph County Lockdown Jail ends after approximately 20 days

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - Wednesday morning ABC57 received a brief update from the St. Joseph County Police Department.

“The entire jail went on lockdown on Nov. 15th for security inspections. The lockdown began to be lifted slowly by slice starting on Monday Nov. 27. All areas of the jail were lifted off lockdown this morning," said the St. Joseph County Police Department's Public Information Officer, Troy Warner, in an email.

ABC57 also asked the department about possible cancelled visits during that time and did not receive any information back.

The County Jail was supposed to begin slowly lifting the lockdown, but inmates' families continued to send ABC57 tips about "inhumane conditions" with limited access to showers and inmates being kept in their cells 23 hours a day.

During that time, we were told inmates could still attend court hearings, watch movies and listen to music from in their cells, but they were not allowed to congregate in common spaces.

Multiple family members contacted ABC57 asking for help and most wished to stay anonymous.

ABC57 is still working to learn the exact cause for the extended lockdown beyond the department stating it was for security reasons.