Richland County commissioners on Thursday morning met with Sheriff's Dept. Maj. Joe Masi (left) and Capt. Jim Sweat at the county administration building.
Richland County commissioners on Thursday morning met with Sheriff's Dept. Maj. Joe Masi (left) and Capt. Jim Sweat at the county administration building.
MANSFIELD -- There are no vacancies inside the Richland County Jail.Â
Jail overcrowding and a new student resource officer position for the Crestview Local School District were among items county commissioners discussed with sheriff's department leaders on Thursday.
Sheriff's Dept. Maj. Joe Masi told commissioners there were 301 inmates in the county jail this week, well over its current bed capacity of 234.
"We're extremely overcrowded," Masi told commissioners, adding it's the largest number of inmates he can recall in his tenure with the sheriff's department.
The overcrowding came up when Commissioner Tony Vero asked why the jail food cost was $54,000 over budget in 2019.
Masi said there has not been "much jail movement" in recent months and sheriff's department officials have meet with Richland County judges to try to expedite cases involving inmates.
"(Judges) have tried their best to reduce the population. We have tried our best. There is a judgement entry that gives us some authority to let people out who are there on lower-risk crimes," Masi said.
"The problem is there are no more low-risk crime (inmates) to be let out. Everyone who is in jail needs to be in jail," Masi said.
Masi said there are currently 234 beds available in the jail pods that are now open. He said the average jail population at the end of 2018 was 267.
"It has grown consistently. We continue to increase. More people are being indicted, there is less movement," he said. "There are a lot of inmates in those pods. The more inmates you have, the harder it is to manage, but we are doing our best."
The major told commissioners the only other option would be to open the remaining three pods on the third floor. But that would add just 30 beds and would cost an additional $500,000 annually in personnel costs.
"The whole jail is only built for 267 people," Masi said, adding that every inmate has a mattress and/or a plastic bed to sleep in.
"Many inmates, even when we are not at capacity, choose to sleep on the floor. Many will not sleep on the top bunks of the bunk beds. So whether they sleep on the bunk beds or not doesn't really have anything to do with overcrowding," Masi said.
Commissioner Tony Vero said, "That's a sad state of what's happening in society. We have more people in jail than we anticipated years ago."
Commissioner Marilyn John told Masi and Capt. Jim Sweat that the jail has averaged $33,000 per month for inmate meals and has about $175,000 left in the budget line.
John directed the sheriff's department to let commissioners know when available funds are nearly spent and additional money could be transferred, likely this fall.
Commissioners on Thursday also approved assigning a deputy as a school resource officer for Crestview schools during the 2019-2020 school year. The district's school board approved the slot during its April meeting.
Masi said the district will bear the entire $69,000 cost for the deputy. It will be the second school district to house a county deputy. Madison Local Schools began using a school resource officer in January.
Masi said at least one other district is considering such a post.Â
City editor. 30-year plus journalist. Husband. Father of 3 grown sons and also a proud grandpa. Prior military journalist in U.S. Navy, Ohio Air National Guard. -- Favorite quote: "Where were you when the page was blank?"
