Sec. 19. (a) The safety board may appoint a police matron, including assistants that are necessary. The matron shall receive, search, and properly care for, at the jail or station house, all female prisoners who are arrested and detained in custody in the city. The matron is not a member of the police department of the city, but has all the authority delegated to a police officer. The matron is subject to rules that are prescribed for the matron by the safety board or by ordinance and may be removed by the board for good cause shown.

     (b) The matron shall be given proper accommodations for the matron and for all prisoners under the matron’s control. The matron is the jailer in charge of the women’s department of the station house or jail and may summon a police officer or other person to the matron’s aid when aid is required. The matron and the matron’s assistant or assistants shall be paid the compensation or salaries that are set for other employees of the police department. The matron, or the matron’s assistant, shall attend all courts when female prisoners are to be tried and shall take charge of all female prisoners while they are awaiting trial or transfer to or from a place of detention.

     (c) The matron must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, fully qualified, and of good moral character.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 18-1-11-17.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.315, SEC.3; P.L.127-2017, SEC.226.