Board Meeting February 27, 2008

Inmates at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio will be more health conscience as board members learned during Wednesday’s meeting.

Caffeine is being pulled off the menu, said CCNO Executive Jim Dennis. He said younger inmates have been acting out at bed time to include throwing items at corrections officers. Upon reviewing the disciplinary action taken over the course of several months, it was determined that removing caffeine at meal time as well as from commissary items might help improve nightly behavior.

The removal of caffeine items will mainly involve switching from caffeine to caffeine-free drinks as well as decaffeinated coffee which inmates can purchase from commissary which is like an in-house store.

In addition to being a smoke-free building, said Mr. Dennis, the facility will also be caffeine free over the next few months. Inmates are not allowed to smoke at CCNO which existed when the facility opened in July 1990.

Mr. Dennis presented board members with a tally of what courts are using video conferencing while informing members of transportation issues to include one bus undergoing minor repairs, a second having heating problems and a third requiring brake repairs.

Currently CCNO provides transportation to 20 area courts in addition to weekly prison runs. Video conferencing is being used in 12 of those courts as well as three probation departments. Top users include Bryan Municipal using video 90% of the time; Lucas County Probation; Oregon Municipal and Napoleon Municipal courts. Mr. Dennis is hopeful that more courts will utilize video conferencing, helping to reduce the need of bus transports as well as increase community and courthouse safety and security.

In other business, Mr. Dennis reported that Wednesday’s population count stood at 578 or 91 percent. He noted an increase in the female population, up from 86 to 100 incarcerated, with housing improvised to accommodate the recent increase in numbers. The inmate population averaged 547 or 85 percent for the months of December and January which Mr. Dennis said was very unusual.

· Travel to West Virginia for three members of the CCNO Special Response Team and a Commander to attend mock riot training. Mr. Dennis said the training gives the participants an opportunity to train with state-of-the-art technology as well as obtain hands-on experience.

· Purchase of a 2008 Chevrolet Uplander through state contract bidding at a cost of $18,258.50.

· Revision in the administrative release policy in which population figures were reduced as specified by the Bureau of Adult Detention back in July. CCNO’s capacity was reduced from 642 to 638, making 90 percent capacity at 574 and 95 percent capacity at 606. Mr. Dennis emphasized that the policy is unique and shows the cooperation between jurisdictions in maintaining population numbers.