Geauga record. [volume] (Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio) 1952-1962, 1955-06-16
Criticize Poor Facilities More
Than Actual Operation

I
In view of the menu the cost
Of $3.50 per meal seems excee-
dinghy high. Ohio Rev. Code
Sec. 311.20 prescribes that the
commissioners pay only the ac-
tual cost of feeding the pri-
soners. The apparent method
of computing cost is to multi
ply the names on the jail regi-
ster for the month by mum
Der of meals served and then
multiply by $3.50 the maximum
allowable by law.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This Board has good idea
of the financial problems fac
ing the county commissioners
but we feel that many of the
following recommendation can
be followed at a minimum ex-
penSe. Some we realize will
not be practical at this time
but we wish to urge the funds
for major improvements be
made available as soon as pos
Sible, particularly in the in =
stances where the law is not
being complied with. The fol-
lowing recommendations are in
the same order as the deScre-
pencieS noted above.
JUVENILE ROOM
That facilities for juvenile de-
tention be enlarged Or that
womenS rooms be used for this
pupose, and womens rooms be
moved to another location, such
as the cell downstairs assign
ed for use Of prisoners wait
ing trial. They do use women's
rooms for Juveniles especial
ly the girls.
That immediate attention be
given to the procurement of
housing of some sort for child
rem under IA years of age. 1t
is the understanding of this
board that these facilities are
required by law to be separ-
ate entirely from the jail build
ing. ....
That if womens rooms are
moved downstairs as recon
mended above, shower facili-
ties be made available. If this
is not possible it is recon
mended that a shower be in
stalled without delay.
That bars be installed on
window to questioning room.
ON THE MAIN FLOOR
That immediate arrangement
be made for separations of pri-
soners either by procuring adj
ditional space or by dividing
the main cell block area as
follows: prisoners awaiting tr-
ial Misdemeanants. Hardened
criminals. minimum acceptab-
le arrangement would be to
group the misdemeanants and
the prisoners awaiting trial who
had not been convicted before,
from the hardened cfiminals.)
That the cleanliness in he
main cell block areas be inn
mediately improved as follows:
That the area be given a
good clean up at once.
Additional mattresses and
blankets be procured so that
regular cleaning can be sche-
duled. If prisoners kept cells
clean the filth would not be
transferred to bedding so rap
idly.
That shower facilities be in
stalled and clean prison cloth
ing be furnished. Can oganiza-
tion such as Ohio Overall Clea-
ming Company be contacted for
procurement of priSion unifor-
ms. This company will sell ma
tching used shirts and pants
for $1.00 per uniform. Prisoners
could be issued one uniform
weekly and a clean one ex-
changed. Prisoners kept for
less time should turn in their
uniforms and these should be
washed for the next person.
That a work program of
work details be established.
There should be a standard
clean : up program each day
for the cleaning of the cell
block and for showers for the
prisoners.
There should be a planned
program of cleaning up, paint
ing up and fixing up which
work could be done by the pri-
soners with proper supervision.
That this area be given
good clean up.
That new prisoners either
be confined separately until
county health dept. is able to
check them or a quick check
be given by someone qualified
upon entry.
That some means of addition
Al ventilation in the summer
and in the winter when the
windows are closed be provid-
I'd such as one or two low
priced exhaust fans.
That some rear exit possible
o be opened from the outside.
'e provided for the prisoners
n the event of fire.
That the entrance arrange
nent be Immediately changed
70 that there is a double lock
loor entrance which can be
controlled from the office
IeSk so that the entering pri-
oner can be in front of the
turnkey at all times.
That some effort be made to
eparate hardened criminals
rom misdemeanats, either by
dditional facilities or by di-