State Rep. Seeking Greater Indiana Prison Oversights

State Representative Gregory Porter is calling for an immediate overhaul of prison oversight following a series of deadly fires at the Indiana State Prison. Porter says the tragedies are the result of years of ‘deferred accountability’ by the Department of Correction. He is proposing a three-step plan: a bipartisan safety audit, a return to monthly ombudsman reports, and quarterly financial reviews. He warns that without legislative action, the state is failing its moral and constitutional duty to treat inmates humanely.  In this area, the oversights, if approved, would affect the state prison at Carlisle.