Summit County has been awarded nearly $3 million through the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program to fund major renovations at the county jail. This grant, totaling $2,952,750, will help modernize the facility and create specialized mental health and recovery units.
What the funding will support:
- Expansion of the existing sallyport to speed up the booking process
- Conversion of part of the sallyport into a pre-booking area focused on medical and mental health evaluations
- Renovation of the intake area to improve safety and crisis intervention, including private screening rooms for mental health and substance use disorders
- Development of dedicated mental health recovery units offering immediate access to medical care, counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and safer, low-stimulation cells
Built in 1990, the Summit County Jail houses an average of 570 inmates daily and processes nearly 10,000 bookings annually. Approximately 75% of those booked suffer from undiagnosed mental health or substance use disorders.
Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro praised the grant, stating, “This investment allows us to upgrade aging infrastructure and enhance safety and rehabilitation efforts for inmates.”
Sheriff Fatheree emphasized the transformational nature of the project: “Our new mental health and recovery units will improve safety, support recovery, and help reduce recidivism.”
In addition to this grant, the Sheriff’s Office recently received a $187,000 opioid remediation grant to fund a full-time Addiction Services Coordinator. The county also supports the THRIVE House transitional housing program, connecting released individuals with treatment and community resources.
Contact Information:
- Amy Corrigall Jones, Summit County Sheriff’s Office (acjones@sheriff.summitoh.net | (330) 643-2152)
- Greta Johnson, Summit County Executive’s Office (ExecutivePress@summitoh.net | (330) 643-2656)