Geauga record. [volume] (Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio) 1952-1962, 1955-06-16

port of the recent inspection o
the county jail, in which it sc
verely criticized the jail.
THE recommendations" &C
cording to the report, "covel
alterations and additions which
are absolutely necessary--somt
Of them in order that the
county jail meets the legal re
quirements.'
The complete report on the
county Jail by the Board O.
Visitors follows:
The Geauga county Boarc
of Visitors met Saturday, Apri
%, 1875 and visited the county
jail. All members were present
We were conducted through
the jail building by Deputy Sc.
oft. The following comments
are to be considered as our
impressions at the time of this
visitation.
ON THE SECOND FLOOR
The Juvenile room was visit.
ed and appearance and condi.
tion was considered quite good
Room was freshly painted and
adequately clean. Two beds
were present and unoccupied
Due to no fault of the Sheriff
or other persons concerned this
section is hardly adequate be-
cause only two can be confined
at one time.
No SEPARATE detention facili-
ties for children under the age
of IA are being maintained as
directed by law. (Ohio Rev.
Code Sec. 211.34, 1918 DAG
vol. 2 p. 1922.
The womens' cells seemed
adequately maintained but
there were no provisions for
baths or showers.
Dep. Scott also showed us a
room that was to be set up
for questioning room" which
was adequately equipped with
chairs, Sables ETC., however
no bars were installed on the
window to the main street.
ON THE MAIN FLOOR
Prisoners awaiting trial are
separated from others when po-
ssible, but due to the small
size of this cell, the sheriff has
not been inclined to confine
them to this room for any long
| period of time. Under the cir
cumStanceS, prisoners awaiting
trial are confined in the main
cell block with all the others.
This is unlawful.
The main cell block was con-
Sidered unsatisfactory as fol =
lows:
General condition of the cell
area was dirty and badly in
need of painting.
Furnishing were poor as
mattresses and blankets were
filthy.
No apparent effort was be-
ing made to keep prisoners
clean, in fact there were no
shower facilities in the event
a prisoner desired to be clean.
Mrs. Phelps stated t h At
there were supposed to be work
details for prisoners, but no
sign of any successful program
in this direction was evident.
Area around sides and be-
hind cell block was Uttered
with papers and rubbish of 9TH
er kinds laying on or near
steam and hot water pipes,
constituting a serious fire haz-
ard.
Medical treatment is avail
able, however no physical or
medical check is made upon
entry thereby leaving the coun-
ty exposed to liability in the
event of contagious disease or
chornic illness.
VentHatlon and heating ap
peared adequate on the day vi
sited.
No jail clothing is issued
and clothing of many prisoners
was dirty. Some undershirts
etc. had been washed by pri-
soners and were hanging from
water pipes, cell doors, and
other unsuitable places, indicat-
ing that at least some of the
prisoners desired to be clean.
There is no rear entrance
or exit from cell block and in
the event of fire in the front
part of building, prisoners wou-
Id be trapped.
Outer door of cell block
neceSSitateS turnkey turning his
back to escorted prisoners to
door. This constitutes a
safety hazard to the turnkey |
as well as an escape problem,
No measures are taken to
separate vicious or hardened
criminals from first offenders
Dr. midemeanants. This is un-
awful.
There seemed to be only two
ire extinguishers in the entire
and upon checking
;hese (soda acid type) neith-
er has been recharged and tes-
ed within the prescribed time
If one year. State law informs
is this type should be recharg-
I'd once a year and pressure
checked periodically.
Prisoners complained about
God, but on checking the menu
t was deemed adequate in view
# the inactivity of the prison
RS.
1t was found that the sher-
IF was collecting the maximum