Lake County Jail Wins National Innovation Award

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Adult Correctional Facility has received a national award recognizing its efforts to improve jail safety, security, operations, contraband detection and services for people in custody.

The facility received the Detention Facility Innovation Award from the National Institute for Jail Operations. The award recognizes detention facilities for exceptional improvements to their operations.

Lake County was recognized for its use of new technology, equipment, training, specialized resources and programming.

Over the past year, the jail has added several new safety measures, including a body scanner placed into service in March. The scanner provides officers with an additional screening tool to detect drugs, weapons and other contraband that could be concealed during traditional searches.

The Sheriff's Office also introduced its first K9 assigned specifically to the Corrections Division in April. The K9 assists with contraband detection, searches, apprehensions and emergency disturbances. A second Corrections K9 joined the facility earlier this month.

The jail has also expanded educational, vocational and reentry programs, including GED instruction, workforce development, the Bridges Program through the College of Lake County, substance abuse support and anger management.

The facility now also offers on-site physical therapy, reducing the need to transport some people in custody to outside medical providers.

“This is tremendous recognition for the men and women of our Corrections Division,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said. “They have worked incredibly hard to make our jail safer, more secure and more effective.”

The award comes shortly after the facility earned its sixth consecutive accreditation from the American Correctional Association. In July, the jail completed a review under the ACA's new fifth-edition standards, with auditors evaluating more than 400 standards covering security, health care, life safety, staff training, facility management and programming.

The facility also maintains accreditation through the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and undergoes annual inspections by the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Idleburg and members of the Corrections Division accepted the award last week at the National Institute for Jail Operations' JAILCON26 Central Regional Conference in Overland Park, Kansas.