The St. Joseph County Jail is among several that is releasing non-violent offenders to reduce inmate populations in the midst of the pandemic

With inmates eating, working and sleeping in the same environment the CDC says it makes it difficult for those in jail to practice social distancing, and that could add to the potential spread of COVID-19.

The South Bend Tribune reports there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in St. Joseph, Elkhart or LaPorte County jails yet, though two St. Joseph County jail officers were recently quarantined and tested for the virus.

Read the original report published in the South Bend Tribune here.