Welcome to the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dealing with offenders with mental health issues at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio has always been a concern. Dealing with such offenders while they are intoxicated continues to be concern for area law enforcement officers and at CCNO as was discussed during Wednesday’s board meeting.
Henry County Sheriff John Nye, CCNO Board chairman, said there are no funds available to help deal with the mentally ill when they become intoxicated, suicidal and unruly. As a result, law enforcement are called and the person is placed in jail. It may not be the proper placement but action must be taken to avoid that person harming themselves or others. “It’s a big gap that needs to be addressed,” he said. “The issue will not go away.”
CCNO Executive Director Jim Dennis said he has been meeting with local law enforcement officials, First Call for Help and hospital administrators to hear concerns about having to deal with the mentally ill and suicidal, especially when intoxicated in the community. While CCNO will accept such individuals, providing they are charged with a crime, there is still a need for mental health evaluations. When incarcerated at CCNO, such an individual would be placed on a suicide watch and monitored every ten minutes. Then the person would be evaluated by a nurse upon becoming sober and a psychologist the next business day. He emphasized the person may or may not still need to be evaluated by North Coast or First Call for Help. Authorities will meet again in June to discuss the matter.
In other business, the board authorized the expansion of electronic monitoring services to juvenile courts. CCNO staff will do the hook-ups and notify the proper probation officer in the event of a problem. Individual juvenile courts would be billed for services provided.
Members were informed that a $44,000 grant was recently received from the Ohio Department of Corrections to finance the expansion of electronic monitoring/GPS services to the Toledo area.
In his operational report, Mr. Dennis said Wednesday’s population stood at 557 or 87 percent, down from 611 or 95 percent on Feb. 24. The population averaged 579 or 90 percent for December and 594 or 93 percent for January. Seven overcrowding emergencies have been declared to date compared to 13 in 2006.
Officials are looking at using electronic methods to allow monies to be placed on an offender’s account to purchase phone cards and commissary items. The method would avoid people from having to mail or come directly to CCNO to deposit such funds. Also being looked into is a 1-800 number that offenders and family could dial direct to receive court case information and release dates vs. seeking such information through their case manager or other sources.
CCNO is making preparations to again receive accreditation from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Mr. Dennis said only six jails in Ohio have received such certification with CCNO being the largest jail. CCNO received full accreditation in 2002 in some 350 state minimum jail standards. The inspection will be conducted May 3 and 4.
Members met in executive session for 15 minutes to discuss union negotiations. Afterwards, during an open session, board members approved a resolution to enter into tentative labor agreements with three unions representing correction supervisors, correction officers and case managers. Details will be announced once permanent agreements have been reached by all parties involved.
This site was updated on April 14, 2008