The Geauga County Sheriff's Safety Center

The Geauga County Safety Center opened its doors to inmates on December 28th, 2005 when 47 inmates were moved from the old linear facility at 13281 Ravenna Road to the new facility at 12450 Merritt Road.

The new facility has been in operation for two full years and has a rated capacity of 182 beds:

               -- 38 beds for females
               -- 84 beds for general population males
               -- 60 beds for males participating in the Community Service/Work release program

In addition to the 182 beds, there are 9 cells. We are now equipped with cells that have CCTV cameras in order to assist in monitoring inmates that are on a suicide watch, have mental health issues, or have disciplinary issues and require segregation.

The Corrections staff worked diligently in order to go through the State Certification process through the Ohio Bureau of Adult Detention for the State of Ohio. In December the final inspection occurred and the jail has been approved for status as a Certified Jail in the State of Ohio. The jail is 100% in compliance with all the standards set by the Bureau of Adult Detention for the State of Ohio. The certification is in effect for five years and will be renewed during the fifth year.

The total number of prisoners received and processed at the Geauga County Safety Center during the year 2007 was 2,662; 2,128 males and 534 females.

This includes new arrests, arraignments, and commitments to jail upon conviction. This number also includes inmates that were booked in for multiple weekends. The total number of prisoners received and processed during the year 2006 was 2,920; 2,420 males and 500 females.

Visitation

** Note ** Attorney / Clergy / Family - Call 440.279.2009 extension 4411 for Special Instructions

We encourage inmates to see friends and relatives while in our facility. Inmates are permitted to have 40 minutes of visitation per week in 20 minute increments. Visiting privileges may be restricted for security or disciplinary reasons, if necessary. Additional visiting time may be provided if time permits.

Visiting Hours: Hours will be posted in each housing unit and in the lobby area. In order to make visiting run smoothly, please bring a photo ID with you when you come to visit. All juveniles must have a birth certificate or picture identification brought with them and must be supervised by a parent or legal guardian during visitation. At no time will a juvenile be left unattended in the reception area or visiting room. Visitation can be denied or terminated by the Jail Administrator or designee under the following conditions which can result in our denying them the opportunity to visit in the future and/or the possibility of criminal charges being filed:

               1.  The visitor represents a clear and present danger to security.
               2.  The visitor has a past history of disruptive conduct at the jail.

You will need to check with the inmate to find out what housing unit he/she is in so you will know the appropriate day for visiting.

Mail

Mail is received at the jail Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Letters addressed to inmates while in jail will normally be delivered on the same day they are received and will be opened in their presence and inspected for contraband. Letters from attorneys and government officials will also be inspected in their presence for contraband. Any contraband found will be confiscated and investigated.

If money is received in the mail, the money will be removed, placed in the inmate's commissary account, and a receipt will be given to the inmate. Any mail received after the inmate has left or mail we cannot accept will be returned to the Post Office to be sent back to the sender. Complaints regarding returned mail may be directed to the Jail Administrator.

At no time will mail be withheld as punishment or unduly delayed. Any suspicion of misuse of mail service may result in investigation and filing of charges.

No reading material (books, magazines, cards, etc.) of an explicit sexual nature, pertaining to the purchase, or assembling of weapons or inciting a person to commit violent actions (inflammatory) will be permitted in the jail. The final say as to what will and will not be accepted lies with the Jail Administrator, in conjunction with the jail's legal counsel.

All incoming mail should be addressed as follows to insure prompt delivery:

Inmate's Full Name
C/O Geauga County Jail
12450 Merritt Road
Chardon, Ohio 44024-0224

Chaplain Program

Information about the Chaplain Program can be found here.

Medical Services

The Geauga County Safety Center offers appropriate medical and mental health services to all inmates housed at the jail including routine health care maintenance as well as emergency care. Sick call is conducted five days a week for inmates by the jail medical staff which consists of a physician and a registered nurse. Inmates are seen for a variety of reasons in the well-equipped medical office including emergency care, laboratory specimen collection and routine history and physicals. Medications are prescribed by the doctor and are made available to the inmates for self-administration under the supervision of trained officers.

All Corrections Officers are certified in CPR and in the use of an AED through the American Heart Association certified instructors (jail registered nurse and one corrections officer). Corrections Officers are also trained in a variety of other medical care situations including seizures, blood borne pathogens, and suicide prevention. In the event of a serious emergency or an ongoing critical care situation, the inmate is transferred via the local rescue squad to University's Geauga Regional Hospital a short distance away.

Crisis intervention is available to inmates for mental health emergencies by Ravenwood Mental Health Center. Court ordered assessments are completed by a part time counselor to facilitate efficient mental health care for those who are in need. Bi-weekly a Ravenwood psychiatrist evaluates inmates that are referred by the counselors for psychiatric evaluation and treatment.

Dental Services are also make available to inmates through On Site Dental, Inc. for those who are in need of dental care. Medications are then provided after dental care in accordance with the dentist's orders.

The medical staff, in conjunction with the correctional staff, provide necessary care to inmates in a timely manner with the use of effective collaboration and communication skills. Two key elements of medical services at the Geauga County Safety Center are prevention and self-care. The Medical Staff strive to take care of medical issues early on to prevent unnecessary outcomes while providing continuity of care both upon admission and release from the facility. The medical staff also focuses on educating and empowering inmates to take better care of themselves to promote a better quality of life.

Jail Programs

The Geauga County Safety Center offers many programs to inmates who are incarcerated in the facility. The inmates are encouraged to attend and participate in the many programs that are offered.

Alcoholics Anonymous:

AA is a program on alcoholism for those inmates with alcohol-related problems who desire to gain insight into their problems.

Adult Basic Education:

While at the Geauga County Safety Center, the inmates can study to obtain their GED (General Equivalency Diploma). The class is taught by a State Certified teacher twice a week.

Inmate Work Program:

An inmate work program is in operation within the jail. There are certain requirements that must be met to become an inmate worker. Work assignments will be assigned by the jail staff. Inmate workers must obey all established jail rules and regulations and all orders by jail staff at all times.

Life Skills:

This program is designed to help inmates receive life skills and job training ranging from how to obtain identification, how to fill out a job application, proper dress, how to interview, financial skills, etc.

Domestic Violence:

Woman Safe, a domestic violence shelter in Geauga County, holds a domestic violence education support group for female inmates every Thursday afternoon. The support group will provide education, referrals, and support.

Anger Management:

This program is designed to assist the inmates with controlling their emotions and giving them the tools and skills to do so.

Dog Therapy Group:

The Dog Therapy Group is a group volunteers that are certified with therapy dogs and come into the jail every Saturday to work with inmates.

Work Release Program:

Work Release is a program that allows inmates who are employed to continue their employment while they are in jail. You must be approved by your sentencing court in order to participate in the Work Release program.

Community Service Program:

The Community Service program allow inmates who meet certain criteria to participate in a work program. These inmates work within the jail and also out in the community as well.

Lake-Geauga Recovery Services, Drug and Alcohol Treatment:

This is an Intensive Outpatient Program that meets the certification standards of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. The program meets three times a week for three hours a day, with additional assessment, counseling, and referral services available as needed. The goal of this program is to utilize the inmate's confinement as a means to confront him/her with the reality of his/her dependency and to educate and counsel him/her about what the recovery will entail. For inmates referred to the program by the courts, a summary is sent to the court with recommendations for continued treatment following jail release. The objective is to support the individual's efforts to establish a clean and sober lifestyle, and avoid re-entry into the legal system.

Pay to Stay:

The Pay to Stay Program is a program that is operated in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 2929.37, which required who are convicted and sentenced out of the local jurisdiction Court System to pay all or part of the costs of confinement to facility. The program has recovered $166,816.87 in inmate costs back to the general fund since 2005.

Safety Center Photos