Clark County Jail — Southern Indiana's ICE detention hub, 150-bed capacity, Louisville corridor

Overview

The Clark County Jail in Jeffersonville, Indiana became a major ICE detention facility in April 2025, making it the primary ICE holding facility in southern Indiana. Located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, it anchors the Indiana side of the Louisville-area enforcement corridor.

Key Facts

ICE agreement: Rider to existing U.S. Marshals Service contract, finalized April 2025
ICE capacity: Up to 150 detainees at a time (initially limited to 75 during assessment)
Total jail capacity: 700+ inmates
First detainees: 46 women arrived week of April 14, 2025
Rate: $70/day per ICE detainee (increased to $90/day from August 2025)
Revenue: $82K first weeks; projected $1.88-2.3M annually at consistent occupancy
Cumulative intake: 336+ detainees since April 2025 (as of October 2025)
Average daily population: 84-95 ICE detainees (fluctuating)
Sheriff: Scottie Maples
AOR: Chicago ERO Field Office

Growth Timeline

April 2025: Agreement finalized; 46 women (first group) arrive
May 2025: Operational at limited capacity (~75)
June 2025: 95 ICE detainees; 140 total processed; $82K in revenue
August 2025: Rate increase from $70 to $90/day
October 2025: 336+ total detainees processed since April; 84 current
April 2026: Facility listed on ICE detention facility page

Why It Matters

Clark County Jail is strategically positioned at the Kentucky-Indiana border. It serves as the receiving facility for detainees identified by:

Corydon PD (Harrison County, 287(g) TFM+WSO, 30 minutes west)
Indiana State Police (287(g) signed July 2025)
ICE/ERO operations in the Louisville sub-office area

The Louisville ICE sub-office has been among the most active in the country (~3,500 arrests Jan 2025-March 2026). Clark County provides Indiana-side detention capacity for this operation.

Community Opposition

“Do Something Southern Indiana” — local advocacy group working to convince Sheriff Maples to stop housing ICE detainees. Protests have drawn attention to conditions and the ethics of profiting from detention.

Contract Details

The agreement is structured as a rider to an existing federal inmate contract with the U.S. Marshals Service (Southern District of Indiana). Key limitation: local officers are NOT authorized to make ICE arrests or place detainers — only ICE agents retain that authority at the facility.

Detention Pipeline