COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday that the state will spend $45 million to renovate or expand six local jails throughout the state.
Jails in Coshocton, Gallia, Harrison and Lawrence counties will receive a total of $41.5 million in funds to replace their current jail facilities. The Scioto County Jail and the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail will receive a combined $3.4 million to expand current facilities.
An additional $5 million will be allocated to address smaller-scale safety issues at other jails in Ohio.
The funds were allocated to the counties following an application process stemming from the December 2020 passage of Senate Bill 310. The counties were chosen due to the conditions of existing jails, DeWine’s office said.
“Upgrading these jails is about more than just safety, it’s also about providing an environment that can influence positive change,” said DeWine. “These jails have fallen into such disrepair because the counties simply couldn’t afford the cost to rebuild on their own. With this help from the state, the improved county jails will better meet the demands of our modern criminal justice system and better address inmates’ underlying issues that may be causing criminal behavior, such as mental health or substance use concerns.”
Harrison County Sheriff Ronald Myers said he has had to use staff to transport inmates to neighboring counties, which he said came at a cost to the county.
“This announcement has come at the right time for the taxpayers of Harrison County. For several years, we have been pulling deputies off patrol to transport inmates all over the eastern side of the state and paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in housing costs at other facilities,” Myers said in a statement. “Now, with this generous funding opportunity, we will be building a state-of-the-art, full-service facility to house our own inmates, which will allow the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office to be available to provide the service our community deserves.”
Senate Bill 310 had broad bipartisan support. The bill passed through the Senate by a unanimous 29-0 margin and in the Ohio House by 77-7 ledger. The $50 million figure was part of $2.13 billion capital appropriations made in the legislation.
