Although Hocking Correctional Facility in Nelsonville is experiencing inmate overcrowding, a new state goal to reduce prison populations could mean an increase in inmates.
The new director of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ernie Moore, announced in September a statewide goal to reduce Ohio prison populations from 50,800 to 48,000 by July 1, 2013.
One of Moore's ideas for decreasing prison population is to defer prisoners to lower security prisons, said Julie Walburn, ODRC spokeswoman.
Hocking Correctional Facility is a medium security prison and, because of its security status, would receive more inmates if this idea were put into action.
Inmates should be placed in the least amount of security possible based on their behavior
said Robin Gee, the facility's spokeswoman.
The facility is designed to hold 250 inmates and currently houses 480 inmates, Gee said, adding that the average prison term for an inmate there is 10.61 years.
Gee would not comment on the possible increase of inmates.
Overcrowding in prisons causes a drain on the state budget, a more dangerous environment for inmates and security staff, management problems and longer waiting lists for inmate rehabilitation programs, Walburn said.
ODRC also is considering diverting low-level offenders to halfway houses or county jails as a possible solution for overcrowding, Walburn said.
Many states have laws deferring low-level offenders with short sentences to county jails, Walburn said. She added that because Ohio has no such law, all convicts are sent to state prisons, causing the overcrowding that the Nelsonville prison is experiencing.
The main cause for prison overcrowding is that low-level offenders serve long sentences, even though the crime rate and state prison system admission rate in Ohio has decreased, Walburn said.
Low-level offenders should be handled in a more appropriate manner, such as decreased prison sentences or intensive probation, Walburn said. Research has shown that rehabilitative and reentry programs are better alternatives for low-level offenders than long prison sentences, she added.
The Hocking Correctional Facility offers several state-approved reentry rehabilitation programs for its inmates, Gee said, adding that these programs prepare soon-to-be released prisoners for re-entry into mainstream society.
Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, a county jail in Nelsonville, serves Athens County along with Morgan, Hocking, Perry and Vinton counties, said jail employee Teresia Tracey. The jail does not experience overcrowding because, if beds are filled to capacity, people brought in are turned away, she added.
In the case of more serious offenses, the sheriff can be contacted to release less serious offenders early, Tracey said.
Athens County pays for 76 beds at the jail, according to State Employment Relations Board documents.
Walburn stressed that the best way to decrease the prison population is to issue more appropriate sentences to low-level offenders.
Prison beds should be reserved for predatory assaultive or violent offenders Walburn said.
Moore has not chosen a plan of action yet and will be working with the agency and community partners across the state to decide which action is the best to follow.
The facility offers literacy programs, GED classes, advanced job training, victim awareness and a program called Cage your Rage
Moore said.
1
News
Rachel Snively
32519a.jpg
The Hocking Correctional Facility in Nelsonville on Sunday may face even more inmate overcrowding due to a new state goal to reduce prison populations, which could relocate more prisoners to the Hocking facility. (Ashley Charffin | FOR THE POST)
