Move would ease jail overcrowding

 

Housing prisoners in a Portsmouth facility is an avenue still open for Lawrence County as the sheriff continues to deal with an aging jail that does not meet state standards and no money to build a new one.

“In trying to resolve the jail issue, I’ve been in conversation with (Scioto County) Sheriff Marty Donini and the option to take in more prisoners is still on the table,” Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless told the county commissioners.

A few months ago, Donini had offered to take more than the 10 prisoners already part of a housing contract between the two counties to help with overcrowding.

Two weeks ago, state corrections officials met with Lawless to review any updates made to the facility built 40 years ago. According to state space requirements the Lawrence County Jail should only house 16 prisoners. Requirements are that each inmate has 55 square feet of jail space. Cells at the county facility are between 39 and 43 square feet.

State officials once told Lawless that he could apply for a variance to allow between 52 to 55 prisoners at the jail. Since then, the sheriff has learned said variance will not be forthcoming.

Jail census can range from 70 to close to 100 inmates depending on the month.

Cost to the county would remain the same as the current housing contract at $48 a day per inmate.

“This is a huge cost to our county but with the state breathing down our necks, what other option do we have,” Lawless said at the commissioners’ Thursday meeting. “(Donini) wants a firm commitment.”

To handle county inmates Scioto would have to open up a currently closed facility and incur staffing costs. The commissioners decided to meet with Lawless in a work session to debate the proposal on Dec. 3.

“This might be a solution,” Commission President Bill Pratt said.

In other action the commissioners:

• Approved awarding Ferguson Brothers Company $18,400 for boiler replacement repair at the Chesapeake Community Center;

• Approved receiving and studying a contract between the county and Perfection Group for $3,048 for HVAC;

• Received the weekly dog warden’s report where one dog was destroyed, 50 dogs were adopted or went to rescue and no dogs were redeemed by their owners. That week there were 87 dogs at the shelter.