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Respect is a two-way street, and the care and attention Sheriff Newton and those under his leadership put into their jobs have kept confrontations between inmates to a minimum at the Huntington County Jail. “Safety is what is paramount in a jail. The inmates all know that I treat every one of them the same,” Sheriff Newton said.
Sheriff Newton says most of the people serving time at the Huntington County Jail are good people who have made some mistakes and deserve a second chance. To build accountability into their daily routine, inmates can earn privileges such as access to different recreational items and devices to maintain supervised contact with their loved ones. This includes renting movies, books and music or texting family members on an iPad. "A jail is like running a little community,” Sheriff Newton said. “They look forward to the little things. It’s a win-win for them."
To address overcrowding, the Huntington County Jail has expanded from 98 beds to 233 beds since 2019. This includes the use of more medical cells and isolation cells to deal with those who are detoxing from alcohol or drugs, suffering from mental issues or displaying violent behaviors. The space itself – from the layout of the holding cells to the jail’s calming light-blue color scheme – has kept the incidents and confrontations between inmates that sometimes plague other jails to a minimum, Sheriff Newton says. “Something has changed in the jail because the environment has changed,” he said.
A display at the Huntington County SheriffÂ’s Office pays tribute to those who have previously served as Sheriff.
The Sheriff’s Department built a strong emphasis on ongoing training into the structure of its offices.
This training room might look plain, but officers and deputies can use it for weapons training simulations and practicing defensive tactics.
Sheriff Newton is installing gym equipment and ensures his officers and deputies have space like this to maintain their physical fitness. “They need to be physically fit,” he said. “They need to be able to take care of themselves.”
The reception area inside the Huntington County Sheriff’s Office.
Inmates can make supervised video calls with their families and loved ones.
File storage was moved during renovations so staff could easily access it while also covering the reception area and answering phone calls.
Staff has access to a kitchen and dining area to relax and prepare nutritious meals and snacks.
The squad room is where officers and deputies complete tasks such as logging their casework and filling out paperwork.
The Huntington County IT Department has relocated to the Sheriff’s Office, where it helps manage and oversee the modern technology and equipment officers and deputies use to complete their important work. “It’s nice having them as neighbors,” Sheriff Newton said.