Indiana inmates may be allowed to order takeout

The LaPorte County Jail is moving toward allowing inmates to place orders for pizza and other food with local restaurants.

Ordering off a menu from outside a prison or jail is nothing new as a tool to provide incentives for maintaining good behavior.

The Indiana State Prison in Michigan City has done it for at least 20 years, not only to maintain order but to help raise money for certain causes like providing toys to children during the holidays, said prison spokesperson Pam James.

"It's a very good program," James said.

LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd said he originally hoped to launch the program on June 1.

However, Boyd felt more time was needed for planning because of the mechanics involved with such a program to eliminate any risk to security.

Food would have to be searched and kept warm before allowed inside the jail, which consistently houses more than 300 offenders, and the procedures for doing that successfully are being further reviewed before a final decision to start the incentive program is made.

"We want to make sure there is no possibility of any contraband coming in," Boyd said.

More staff might have to be added and trained to run the program, but the intent is to not cost taxpayers a penny.

Inmates would pay for the meals from money deposited into their commissary accounts.

The takeout orders would be offered about once a month only to offenders who maintain good behavior.