TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Where does the Lucas County jail stack up when it comes to inspections statewide?
The 13 Action News I-TEAM is laying out the findings following a recent visit by the state of Ohio.
There are no plans for a new jail and as the I-TEAM told you recently, the state has told the county that if repairs are not made, then the functionality of the place could be compromised. This jail isn’t the only one statewide with concerns.
Inspectors with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections go through each county-operated facility year by year. Lucas County is no exception. In the 2024 inspection, Lucas County was found to have 13 noncompliant standards. Three were listed as essential and 10 were listed as important.
One essential violation was perimeter keys found within a secure perimeter and locks found “defeated” by staff. An important violation, for example, was that areas of the jail had temperature readings outside the comfortable levels.
Lucas County is not the only place in the state seeing double-digit violations. The I-TEAM went through all of the available 2024 inspection reports for about 75 county jail facilities. Some counties share buildings.
Harrison County, in the eastern part of the state, had the largest number at 48. That county is just about to open a brand new facility. Columbiana County has 32 violations, while Summit and Ashtabula both with 23.
Lucas County commissioners have killed plans for a new county jail, instead opting to solicit proposals for repairs to the current one.
As we wait for those proposals, Sheriff Mike Navarre tells the I-TEAM he’s received an estimate from a construction expert familiar with the current jail and that the number to get to the state recommendation will be $100 million. That number, though, is not set in stone.
Some jails in our region had great scores and no issues of noncompliance. They were Wood, Putnam, Van Wert counties and the CCNO regional jail in Stryker that works with Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Williams counties and some inmates in Lucas County.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-08-26 18:32:00
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