Indiana’s rising inmate population is throwing cold water on Michigan City officials’ eagerness to redevelop the Indiana State Prison once the new prison in Westville opens.

When ground was broken for the new $1.2 billion prison in 2023, it was designed to hold up to 4,200 prisoners. Indiana Department of Correction plans at the time called for closing the Michigan City prison and moving inmates there and at Westville Correctional Facility to the new 1.4 million-square-foot prison, the Northwest Indiana Correctional Facility, now under construction.

In September 2023, the Westville inmate count was about 2,300, with another 2,282 at Michigan City. There were 58 available beds in Michigan City and another 548 in Westville. &nbsp

Fast forward to July 2025, the most current inmate count

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