Ripley County Jail gets renovation, high-tech upgrades

(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – Some major renovations are being completed in the Ripley County Jail and officials say much of the work is being done without tapping into taxpayer funds.

Ripley County Sheriff Rob Bradley has put a focus on remodeling the jail and bringing in state-of-the-art technology. 

The front lobby, which is the entry point for those being booked into the jail, has been remodeled with new flooring and ceiling, a new workspace for jail officers, and an upgraded nurses office.

It was made possible through commissary funds as well as inmates who helped with the remodeling process. 

New Whole-Body Scanner Installed

One major addition is the purchase of the Tek84 Intercept whole-body scanner, a system designed to detect drugs and weapons that traditional searches often miss.

Bradley credited Ripley County Council for funding the Intercept purchase and added that it’s directly leading to less contraband and the opportunity for overdoses in the jail. 

It’s critical as jail staff has experienced people bringing in contraband in their body cavities which can’t be located through a normal pat down or even strip search. 

“It essentially works as a full-body X-ray machine and it is helping keep illegal drugs and contraband out of our jail,” said Ripley County Sheriff Rob Bradley. 

The front lobby area also features a new fingerprint machine that was funded by a grant from the Indiana Supreme Court. 

Advanced Inmate Monitoring

Another new piece of technology at the facility is inside the first cells that an inmate enters after being booked in. 

Three holding cells have been equipped with the ‘Cell-Guardian’ which is an advanced, zero-touch inmate monitoring system built to identify immediate changes in an inmate. It looks like a camera but can do significantly more. 

Cell-Guardian uses advanced sensor fusion technology—combining radar, thermal imaging, and computer vision—to monitor temperature and movement and rapidly detect falls—in real time without physical contact.

“Somebody might come into the jail sick from drugs or sick from alcohol, and this system helps monitor vital signs, respiration and temperature,” Bradley said.  “Due to the Cell Guardian expense, we currently only have it in our nurse’s medical cell, intoxication room as well as our padded room.” 

Improving Inmate Lifestyle and Programs

In a partnership with the Ripley County Probation Department, an underutilized area of the jail has recently been converted into the Programs Room.  It provides a common space for inmates to attend classes and meetings.

Some purposes of the room include GED classes, faith-based groups, and peer-to-peer counseling provided by organizations such as 1 Voice from Dearborn County.  

“It’s really making a difference within the jail.  This adds another layer of accountability of the inmates overall behavior. The Programs Room has certainly been a good thing,” the sheriff added.