Ohio’s prison population has climbed to 51,145 persons this month, up substantially from the 8,846 incarcerated in 1972.  It is also estimated that slightly more than half of them are incarcerated for less than a year and serve time for crimes that could be addressed in a community setting. Despite soaring budget deficits in Ohio, the State of Ohio’s prison budget has grown this year. A recent study has shown that Ohio lags greatly behind most other states in cutting its prison costs and we continue to incarcerate thousands of individuals for non-violent offenses.  Ohio’s expenditures for the prison system are nearly $1.6 billion dollars a year, which is up from $1.4 billion in 2001 and $480 million in 1991. 

There is a clear condition of overcrowding in Ohio’s prisons where most are operating at 132% of their capacity.  This condition causes a great strain on inmates and staff, resulting in high levels of stress, tension, and increased violence.  Many are locked up for low-level offenses, including minor theft, child-support neglect, and drug related offenses. It is now advocated that sentencing reform in Ohio could go a long way in reducing prison crowding, saving money, and investing in community based services, such as drug treatment, mental health, and job training to keep offenders out of prison.

Senator Bill Seitz has introduced SB 22 to change criminal sentencing laws in Ohio. Under his bill, less serious crimes would no longer mandate prison time.  The bill would free-up 3,498 prison beds saving $15 million a year, which, according to Senator Seitz, could be better utilized through the use of programs in the community to help people stay out of prison.   The bill includes recommendations that provide alternatives for failing to pay child support, increasing the “earned credit” time for eligible inmates from one day to five days, raising the felony thresholds from $500 to $700, and redefining “supervision” for parole violators.

SB 22 was introduced by Senator Seitz in the Ohio General Assembly in February, 2009 and a companion bill, HB 386 was introduced in the House in December, 2009 by Rep. Tyrone Yates.   Both bills remain stalled in the Ohio General Assembly while our deficit continues to soar and prison overcrowding creates an environment which is not conducive to rehabilitation and fosters violent outbreaks like the one occurring at Lucasville prison in April, 1993.