Expansion project at regional jail will add 47 beds

An estimated $1.4 million project to create 47 additional beds for female prisoners at Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail is moving forward, according to jail board President Charlie Adkins.

The regional jail at Nelsonville can currently house 40 women, but there are times when no beds are available. When that happens, calls are made to Muskingum, Meigs, Washington and Fairfield counties to see if they have beds available, according to Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith, who is also on the jail board.

Adkins said he believes there are instances when women would be incarcerated if more space was available.

“We need more jail space, we just don’t have enough,” Smith said. “I think (the expansion) is a good start and it’s very necessary.”

Smith said opioid addiction doesn’t discriminate between men and women, and the opioid epidemic has resulted in an increase demand for jail space. He said it’s hoped that the new Overdose Prevention and Treatment Team, which is aimed at getting addicts into treatment sooner, will help alleviate stress on the jail.

The jail’s board had reviewed three options for adding more beds for female prisoners.

Those options, including estimated cost and the number of beds created, were:

• Construct a stand-alone building; just under $4.29 million; 49 beds
• Use half of an indoor recreation area and build an addition; $3.5 million; 51 beds
• Use the entire indoor recreation area and build an addition, $1.4 million; 47 beds

Adkins, who is an Athens County commissioner, said the least-expensive option that was chosen will only produce slightly fewer beds that the more expensive choices. Adkins said the jail should be able to pay for the project with capital funds it has accumulated and with carryover funds, without borrowing. The board selected its preferred option at its March 28 meeting.

The project calls for converting a gym into a 42-bed dormitory for female prisoners. An addition would be constructed that will include three cells with a total of five beds for prisoners who need to be separated from other prisoners. There will also be an enclosed open-air recreation area, storage, an office, showers and bathrooms.

Adkins said he hopes construction can start before the end of the year and the additional beds in use by the first half of 2019.

Warden Josh VanBibber said a minimum of six new staff members will be needed. That number would cost about $300,000 a year including salaries and fringe benefits, he estimated.

A separate proposal for potential use of the former Hocking Correctional Unit prison near Nelsonville also includes space to house female prisoners. The state gave approval to a Corrections Facility Future Use Team earlier this week. (See related story)

Adkins said if that eventually happens, it could reduce the need for another expansion at Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail after this one.