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An increase in fuel costs and a lack in funding for the electronic monitoring program highlighted Wednesday's meeting of the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio. Also officials supported a jail diversion program for male trauma victims.
CCNO officials were informed that 65 percent of the $66,700 allocated for fuel costs has already been spent and there will likely be a $20,000 shortage by the end of the year.
Officials were also advised that CCNO is looking at a $200,000 shortage in funding to finance the electronic monitoring program beginning Jan. 2009 but that is caused by a lack of paying customers, said Jim Dennis, CCNO Executive Director.
Mr. Dennis said the number of electronic monitoring and GPS participants continues to increase to a record average of 150 per day but only 57 percent are actually able to pay. In an effort to offset costs, he said, there was an increase in rate fees and one staff position was not filled after being vacated.
Under the program, said Mr. Dennis, a total of 1,335 people were diverted from CCNO in 2007. The daily cost of placing someone on electronic monitoring is $10 and $15.50 for GPS per day compared to a per diem rate of $70.03 at CCNO. Officials discussed options to include judges making sure participants can pay; courts offsetting costs for indigent participants; hiring a collection agency; the program being overseen by a private agency; and allocating only a specific number of indigent slots in the program. The matter was referred to the CCNO Financial Overview Committee for study and recommendations.
Officials were advised that the Lucas County Jail’s pay for stay policy is collecting approximately $30,000 a month. Mr. Dennis said the board had looked into pay for stay some years ago but judges voiced objection. It was agreed that the CCNO Financial Overview Committee would again consider the matter and make any recommendations to the board.
Mr. Dennis said he recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak about the trauma program being conducted for the past three years at CCNO for female offenders. The program recently received additional funding to continue for two more years. While there, he talked with officials as CCNO, the Lucas County Jail, TASC of Lucas County and Recovery Services of Northwest Ohio have partnered for a federal grant to create a men’s trauma diversion program with emphasis to assist veterans and minorities. The funding will go to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and be dispersed to the agencies through the local mental health boards if funded.
In his operational report, Mr. Dennis said Wednesday’s inmate population stood at 585 or 92 percent. The population averaged 596 or 93 percent in April and 593or 93 percent in May. He noted that the population count continues to climb during the summer months and there has been an increase in the number of female inmates. He said anytime there are 100 female offenders and 500 male offenders, a housing problem exists.
One judge suggested the creation of a five-day holding facility to help manage the increased female population. Mr. Dennis suggested a separate community security facility to house offenders in work release or community public works although the problem remains of finding eligible offenders as the majority have numerous charges from multiple jurisdictions.
Mr. Dennis said CCNO received re-accreditation from the American Corrections Association with a permanent waiver on three juvenile standards that required a separate housing unit for adjudicated juveniles. He noted that the May 21 inspection by the Ohio Bureau of Adult Detention went well. In addition, Mr. Dennis said CCNO staff are participating in a research project with the Prison Information Resource Library on managing older offenders with training being provided free of charge on dealing with aging offenders, mental health and chronic health issues as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
This site was updated on June 10, 2010