A significantly higher number of inmates is being seen in the McDonough County Jail recently, which Sheriff Nick Petitgout correlates to ongoing high-profile cases and just increased violence across the country:
“It is significantly higher than a lot of counties with populations our size. We have a lot of high profile cases in McDonough County, which I think that is the reason for it. We have seen an increase in violence across this country and for really no reason. We have seen just a significant rise in violent crime in which we have never seen before in this area; couple that with the economy, couple that with Illinois and some of their policies, and we just have this perfect spike. Also, you have to look at the types of crimes that are being committed. Some of these crimes could easily be aggravated battery with a weapon and then they wind up being a homicide because you are two inches this way or you are two inches that way.”
Sheriff Petitgout informs there are currently 35 to 40 inmates in the McDonough County Jail, depending on the weekend activity.
