Court is in session in Warren County, but not without some challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic. Due to concerns of COVID and maintaining social distancing, jury pools are not being called in at this time, reports Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Siegel:
“For the time being, jury proceedings are suspended because there are some risks associated with having that many people in an enclosed space at one time. Most of the defendants are getting released. There is a really interesting situation that has developed that very few people I think are aware of. What has happened is the Illinois Department of Corrections has stopped receiving inmates for all intense and purposes. They do receive them, but there are a number of rules that must be followed that make it really impossible for our jail to comply. We don’t have the space. What has happened now is that these inmates, who have already been sentenced to state prisons, are stuck in our jail. We don’t have a lot of room in our jail. We aren’t able to keep as many people in our jail. There is less risk that somebody is being detained, waiting for trial at this point and time,” Siegel informs.
Due to insufficient ability to comply with state mandated regulations of separating male and female inmates in the Warren County Jail, female inmates are currently being held in Mercer County.
