Lake County Jail passes inspection and audit

WAUKEGAN – The Lake County Jail passed its most recent inspection and audit conducted by the Illinois Department of Corrections, Sheriff John Idleburg announced.

The detailed inspection of the Lake County Jail took place on Sept. 17, 2024, according to a news release.

The IDOC inspection is conducted on an annual basis. During the inspection, IDOC auditors thoroughly inspect more than 330 categories.

Several achievements were recognized over the past year and documented by the auditors:

• The Lake County Jail is accredited by the American Correctional Association through 2026. This accreditation has been maintained since 2000.
• 100% compliance for on-time visual security checks.
• On-site physical therapy was established in 2024, eliminating the need to transport detainees out of the facility and reducing costs.
• Social and educational services are provided at the jail by religious leaders and organizations to motivate and assist detainees while incarcerated and to assist detainees with reentry into society upon release.
• The Lake County Jail offers GED courses, workforce development, the Bridges Program (offered by College of Lake County), substance abuse support (offered by Nicasa) and other services to help detainees become productive upon reentry.

“The dedicated men and women of our correctional staff work tirelessly to ensure our jail is safe, secure and rehabilitative,” Idleburg said in the release. “We are proud to once again meet IDOC’s rigorous standards. Our team’s commitment to providing necessary resources and maintaining a professional environment highlights our responsibility to the community and those in our custody.”

In the first six months of 2024, the jail received more than 2,700 new inmates and had an average daily population of 515 inmates. Correctional officers successfully conducted more than 6,200 inmate transports to court hearings and other court-ordered trips.