Design flaw allowed Ind. inmates to leave cells

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Workers are altering part of the Vigo County jail to fix a design flaw that allowed inmates to crawl through the ceiling to visit other cells. Eight pods in the 7-year-old addition to the original jail are getting sturdier ceiling panels to prevent excursions by inmates under a settlement with the original architect.

Sheriff Jon Marvel said the $500,000 ceiling upgrade should be complete by early December.

He said the design flaw allowed inmates in a top bunk to kick and bend perforated metal ceiling panels, stripping out screws so they could lift the panel.

Once a panel was lifted far enough, inmates could slip through the gap and roam around in the space above the cells to visit other inmates.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com

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Nov 5, 2009 - 08:26 p.m. EDT

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