VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — A Porter County Jail policy that requires staff to throw away inmates' prescription medications is drawing fire from defense attorneys.

Sheriff Dave Lain tells The Times the county can't verify that the medication is what it's listed as, so it disposes of the drugs instead of returning them to inmates upon their release.

Defense attorneys say police can easily check databases to identify the medication. They argue that throwing away legitimate prescriptions can cause problems for inmates whose insurers won't cover the costs to replace those recently filled.

Jail officials say many medications prescribed outside jail aren't given to inmates. Lain says a nurse is on duty around the clock to tend to inmates' medical needs.