- DeWine announced he would appoint a group of experts to examine overcrowding in state psychiatric hospitals and mental health services in county jails in February
- Most of the 16,000 people in Ohio jails each day suffer from substance abuse, mental illness, or both.
Gov. Mike DeWine said every death in county jails should be investigated by an outside agency, not the sheriffs who run the jails, and Ohio needs to do more work to divert people with mental illness or drug addiction to treatment, rather than lockups.
Currently, sheriffs investigate most of the deaths that occur in their jails but have the option to ask the Ohio Bureau of Investigation to investigate. A spokeswoman for BCI said it doesn't have the capacity to investigate all in-custody jail deaths under its current staffing and budget.
"We know that our jails are generally not equipped to deal with people with addiction and ... they're not the ideal place for someone with a mental health problem," DeWine said Tuesday after publication of a year-long investigation by the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer and USA Today Network Ohio.
Special Investigation:In Ohio's jails 220 inmates have died in 4 years
DeWine said his heart goes out to the people whose family members died in jail and their stories are "deeply disturbing."
The governor noted that his administration has increased the number of jail inspectors from three to nine and the state provides money for medications for opioid use disorder in the jails. He said the state has invested about $175 million in jail improvements.
DeWine announced he would appoint a group of experts to examine overcrowding in state psychiatric hospitals and mental health services in county jails in February. He said the same group may focus more on jails after they come back with their initial recommendations.
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith said she's considering state certification for about 20 jails to highlight successes and give jails in the state something to strive for. Chambers-Smith said the state hasn't used its certification process in many years.
Sheriffs' association has a plan for third-party investigations
Stark County Sheriff George Maier, president of the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association, said the sheriffs take it to heart when someone is injured or dies in a jail.
He said he welcomes third-party investigations. When sheriffs reach out to the association after a critical incident or in-custody death, the association will assign a sheriff's office from at least one county removed to investigate and make recommendations for any criminal charges to the county prosecutor.
"I know on the surface that looks like that's inside baseball. But let me tell you that is reviewed not only by a third-party agency, they're not going to put their credibility at stake. They're not going to compromise their integrity. They come in and do a thorough and complete investigation," he said.
Maier said the separate investigation is necessary because if someone working for his department is not doing their job, he would want to weed them out.
Maier also said he thinks the Bureau of Adult Detention should have a special division to oversee jails that fail standards and ensure the jails have a plan to be in compliance and follow through on that plan.
"That piece could help everybody across the state of Ohio. Our association plays an active role in setting standards and we're happy to continue to do that for the better people who are in our custody and our care," he said.
"Jails have to change," said Phil Plummer, the only current state lawmaker who also served as a county sheriff.
Plummer said he would push for more crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers, more robust state oversight of local jails and stronger coordination of efforts to address the ongoing opioid addiction crisis.
Most of the 16,000 people in Ohio jails each day suffer from substance abuse, mental illness, or both.
Plummer, who spent 10 years as Montgomery County sheriff, said he'd work with other state lawmakers with law enforcement backgrounds.
During Plummer's tenure as sheriff, the county was sued multiple times over the treatment of incarcerated people and paid out millions of dollars in settlements.
State Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, who chairs the Corrections Institutions Inspection Committee, which oversees state prisons, said that outside investigations of deaths, more drug treatment and mental health services and better training for jail employees are all good steps.
But she cautioned against the state taking a heavy hand in telling elected sheriffs what to do. "There would be many sheriffs that would be reluctant to accept our help."
ACLU of Ohio lobbyist Gary Daniels said the year-long investigation shows the failure of mass incarceration in Ohio.
"It is crucial to note much of what is detailed in this reporting is avoidable with proper attention and political will from policymakers," he said. "However, for decades, the approach from all levels of government around the state has been, and still remains, to sweep these complex issues under the rug and hope for the best."
Laura Bischoff and Erin Glynn are reporters for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
