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Inmates to watch the Super Bowl past bedtime

Vic Ryckaert
vic.ryckaert@indystar.com

Jail inmates permitted to watch the Super Bowl past bedtime

Inmates at the Marion County Jail will get to stay up late to watch the Indianapolis Colts take on the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl today, officials said.

The inmates will be allowed to stay in the recreation areas and watch TV until the game ends, which will likely be past the typical lights-out time of 10.p.m., said Deputy Chief Gary Tingle of the Marion County Sheriff's Department.

“We will allow them to finish watching the game before we bunk them in,” said Tingle, who is in charge of the jail. “That’s just the right thing to do.”

Tingle said jail officials usually allow inmates to stay up late to watch major sporting events as long as they are following the rules and keep their cells and commons areas tidy.

“Their TV privileges are all based on the cleanliness of their rooms,” Tingle said. “I seriously doubt we’re going to have any problems with the cleanliness of their cells and other areas because they all want to watch the game.”

At the Johnson County Jail, where the lights typically go off at 11.p.m., the supervisor on duty has the authority to keep the lights on if the game goes long, said Maj. David Emery, the jail commander.

“If the blocks are being compliant, it is likely they will let them stay up to watch the end of the game,” Emery said.

Inmates at the maximum-security Indiana State Prison in Michigan City will be given popcorn to take with them when they watch the games on televisions in their cells, spokesman Barry Nothstine said.

“In order to keep the noise down, offender have headsets,” Nothstine said, “but I imagine when there’s a good play, the cell house is going to be a little noisy