Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Frequently Asked Questions
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Offenders
- 1) What types of offenders are committed to prison in Ohio?
- In Calendar Year 2011, 20,682 offenders were committed
to the state prison system (18,033 males; 2,649 females).
Categorized under their most serious offense, approximately
25% of these offenders were incarcerated for drug related
offenses (e.g., drug abuse, trafficking); 15% were committed
for miscellaneous property offenses (e.g., arson, theft,
receiving stolen property, breaking and entering); approximately
26% were committed for crimes against persons (e.g.,
robbery, assault, domestic violence, homicide-related
offenses); 11% were committed for burglary; 7% were incarcerated
for sex offenses (e.g., gross sexual imposition, rape).
The remaining individuals were incarcerated for motor
vehicle, fraud, or firearm offenses, as well as offenses
against justice/public administration and other miscellaneous
felonies. (See Commitment Reports)
- 2) What is the average reading level of offenders coming into Ohio prisons?
- The average reading level of inmates received by
the Department is a grade level of 7.5. Further 80%
of the offenders are high school drop outs. Approximately
30% of the males and 20% of the females read at less
than a 6th grade education and are considered functionally
illiterate.
[Back to Top] - 3) I believe my brother was incarcerated in an Ohio prison in the late 1940's. How can I verify this information?
- You should call the
Ohio Historical Society, Archives/Library Research
Services Department at 614-297-2510. It houses records
for the Ohio Penitentiary from 1829 to 1973; the
Ohio Reformatory from
1896 to 1968; Ohio Reformatory
for Women, from 1913 to 1942; and the London Prison
Farm from 1908 to 1949. Current inmate records and records
of inmates incarcerated after 1973 are housed at the
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Central
Inmate Records at 614-752-1076.
[Back to Top] - 4) A relative of mine was sentenced today to 4 years in prison. How does the Department determine to which prison an inmate is assigned?
- Your relative will be transported to one of three
reception centers in Ohio. Female inmates are sent to
the Ohio Reformatory for
Women in Marysville; male inmates, depending on
the county from which they are sentenced, are sent to
either the Correctional
Reception Center in Orient or the
Lorain Correctional Institution
in Grafton. Each inmate is evaluated by mental health,
education, medical, and unit staff. Inmate security
level classification is determined through the consideration
of pre-commitment variables such as: age at current
commitment, current offense(s), security level when
last released from prison, history of violence, gang
affiliation or drug use, and escape history. Institution
assignments are arrived at by matching inmate requirements
(security level, medical, education, separations, etc.)
with the institution available to best meet those needs.
Once assigned to an institution, the inmate's security
level is reviewed at least annually. Based on the inmate's
adjustment, a reclassification to a higher or lower
security level can be made that could result in an institutional
transfer. Inmates generally spend between six and eight
weeks at the reception centers before being transferred
to their "parent institution."
[Back to Top] - 5) How can an inmate obtain an institutional transfer?
- The inmate must follow the transfer guidelines established
in the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Administrative
Rules. The inmate must first file a formal, written
request to transfer through the case manager. The case
manager sends the inmate's request to the institutional
unit classification committee. The classification committee
interviews the inmate to determine eligibility. The
request is forwarded to the institution warden or warden
designee for approval. The request is then forwarded
to Central Office, Bureau of Classification. The Bureau
investigates the request to determine final approval
and transfer if applicable. If the warden denies
an inmate's request, the inmate may appeal in writing
to the Bureau of Classification.
[Back to Top] - 6) What are considered valid reasons for requesting a transfer to another prison?
- Transfer requests are considered for visiting hardships
(e.g., families live far from the prison and do not
have access to transportation), program participation,
continuation of education, conflict with another inmate,
or medical reasons. However, transfers can only be made
when the appropriate security level beds are available.
[Back to Top] - 7) What is meant by "level 3" security?
- Ohio has a five-tier classification system: Levels
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. All new inmates are classified as
"level 3" security until the formal reception process
has been completed.
Level 5 security inmates are the most closely supervised group, followed by level 4, level 3, level 2 and, finally, level 1. The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville is currently Ohio's only level 4 security institution, although the Franklin Medical Center can house both level 4 and level 5 security inmates needing medical treatment. Level 4 inmates housed at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility may request a transfer to the Ohio State Penitentiary through their unit staff. The Ohio State Penitentiary, a level 5 facility, opened in April 1998 near Youngstown. This facility houses up to 500 of Ohio's most predatory and dangerous inmates.
[Back to Top] - 8) How is the offender's security level determined?
- This decision is based on the following: current
age; seriousness of the crime; prior offenses; most
recent violence (not including the current offense);
gang activity before going to prison; and present and
past escape attempts.
[Back to Top] - 9) Is an inmate's disciplinary finding appealable?
- Yes, an inmate may appeal the Rules Infraction Board's
(RIB) decision to the Warden. If the inmate is not satisfied
with the Warden's response, the next step is to appeal
the decision to the Director's Office.
[Back to Top] - 10) What is segregation?
- This is an area of the institution where inmates
are placed to separate them from the general population.
Prisoners often refer to this area as "the hole," but
in reality it is simply an area to house inmates who
must be separated from others because of security control,
disciplinary control, or local control.
- Security Control (SC) is the status of an inmate who is pending a hearing by the Rules Infraction Board for a rule violation, under investigation or pending institutional transfer and needs to be separated from the general population.
- Disciplinary Control (DC) is the status of an inmate who was found guilty by the Rules Infraction Board and his or her penalty is to serve DC time. An inmate may serve up to 15 days in DC.
- Local Control (LC) is the status of an inmate who was referred to the Local Control Committee by the Rules Infraction Board. The committee will decide if the inmate has demonstrated a chronic inability to adjust to the general population or if the inmate's presence in the general population is likely to seriously disrupt the orderly operation of the institution. A committee reviews the inmate's status every 30 days for release consideration. The inmate may serve up to 180 days in LC.
[Back to Top] - 11) How many inmates are currently on death row in Ohio?
- For a complete listing of inmates on death row
in Ohio, please see
www.drc.ohio.gov/public/deathrow.htm.
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Inmate Visiting, Mail, and Phones
- 1) An inmate from an Ohio correctional institution is collect calling my home. What can I do to prevent this?
- Please refer to the
Offender Phone Services page for information on
how to deal with this issue.
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- 2) Why is it necessary to have a random announcement on the telephone line saying "This call originates from a correctional institution in Ohio," when I was informed of the same thing before I accepted the call?
- The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
has granted inmates the privilege of making collect
telephone calls to family and friends. Inmates have
attempted to use the Inmate Call Out Program to engage
in criminal activity such as telecommunication fraud
and harassment, while serving sentences in Ohio prisons.
This announcement is designed to inform those who may
have not received the initial announcement should a
third party become involved. Third parties are commonly
added to calls by using "call transfer" or "3-way calling"
features. Third party calls are not permitted.
[Back to Top] - 3) Why are the phone rates so much higher than the normal collect long distance calls?
- Additional equipment that is not installed for regular
long distance service must be installed for the inmate
class of telephone service. It is used to control
and monitor the privilege of making telephone calls.
This equipment was installed at no expense to the taxpayers
of Ohio and is supported through the users paying for
the service. Additionally, a portion of the cost of
the call is returned to the ODRC and is used to support
inmate recreation and other programs such as substance
abuse. The telecommunications companies supplying the
service to each institution received their contract
by submitting a competitive bid.
[Back to Top] - 4) Why can't the inmates have a credit card, prepaid long distance calling card or use a personal 800 number to make long distance calls?
- The Administrative Regulations that govern inmate
conduct forbid the use of a credit card by inmates.
The telecommunications industry recommended not using
the 800 number system because of the likelihood of criminal
activity and the difficulty in blocking other 800 numbers.
Finally, inmates are not permitted to have anything
in their possession that could be used as or converted
to money. A prepaid calling card could be used as a
form of currency.
[Back to Top] - 5) Why are there time limits on calls?
- Time limits are imposed to allow all inmates to
use the phone system. Each institution Warden
sets the time limit based on the number of available
telephones as well as the security level and behavior
of the inmate population.
[Back to Top] - 6) What am I allowed to mail an inmate in prison?
- As of January 1, 2007 all packages received by an
inmate must be ordered through
Keefe
Group/Access Securepak or
Union Supply
Direct.
Clothing and food items are permitted to be sent to Level 1, 2, 3, 4A and Death Row inmates. Level 4B, 5, Reception and Intensive Prison Program inmates cannot receive packages. However, there are limitations to the number of packages that may be sent. Inmates (patients) with long-term placements at the Franklin Medical Center (FMC), Frazier Health Center (FHC) or Oakwood Correctional Facility (OCF) may receive packages with the approval of the Warden. Otherwise, FMC and FHC inmates are ineligible to order or receive packages. Similarly, inmates who have been sent to outside hospitals or who are assigned to disciplinary control or local control are ineligible to order or receive packages. Institutions provide inmates with a list of items they may receive; this list may vary from prison to prison. It is the responsibility of the inmate to provide you with the list and the proper mailing guidelines.
[Back to Top] - 7) Do Ohio prisoners have access to computers for e-mail correspondence?
- No, Ohio inmates do not have direct access to e-mail. You may correspond with an inmate via the U.S. Mail or by using JPay, an innovative electronic mail system (this program does NOT provide inmates with direct email access).
- On correspondence sent via U.S. Mail, please include the offender's inmate number. The inmate number can be obtained by calling Central Inmate Records at 614-752-1076 or accessed through our Offender Search. Prison addresses can be found on our Addresses page.
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- 8) Can inmates receive money while in prison?
- Inmates can receive money orders up to $100.00 from
anyone. Money orders over $100.00 must be approved
by the Warden. Money orders must have a legible
signature of the sender and include the return address
of the sender, inmate’s name and inmate number.
The money order is placed in the inmate's account. While
the inmate never has direct access to this money, it
is available to him or her for commissary purchases,
etc.
[Back to Top] - 9) How can I visit an inmate?
- An inmate must request to place your name on his
or her visiting list. The staff forwards a visiting
application to you for completion. You may also
print a visitation application from our
visiting page. Once
returned, the staff reviews the application and approves
or denies per the visiting policy. Click
here for additional visiting
information.
- In mid-2010, the Department began piloting a video visitation system at four Ohio prisons: Belmont Correctional Institution, Noble Correctional Institution, Ohio State Penitentiary, and the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Approved visitors for offenders in these institutions may schedule 30 minute video visitations. More information is available at http://www.gtl.net/products/odrc.shtml.
- In addition, transportation for visitors may be available through
the following agencies:
- The Family Connections, Leavittsburg, 330-899-7963;
- J B Transportation, Cleveland, 216-863-1223;
- People Interested in People (PIP), Cincinnati, 513-381-5882; or
- Man-to-Man/Woman-to-Woman (M2M/W2W), 513-681-4129
- 10) When can I visit an inmate?
- Dates and times in which visits are permitted vary.
The individual that you wish to visit is responsible
for sending you the guidelines to follow and the visiting
schedule. You may also obtain this information by calling
the institution's visiting office or going to
our visiting page.
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Victim Services
- 1) I was the victim of a crime, and the offender was sentenced to an Ohio prison. How can I learn when he might be released?
- You should contact the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation
and Correction's Office of Victim
Services at 1-888-842-8464. Victims of inmates incarcerated
in Ohio's prisons may register to be notified prior
to any release consideration (parole) of the inmate.
Upon receiving notice, they may either write to the
Ohio Parole Board or personally voice their opinion
in an interview with a Parole Board staff person. These
interviews are conducted by phone or in person during
"victim conference day." Victim conference day is held
once a month for this purpose.
Staff will notify persons who have requested notification in the event of one of the following:
- Inmate escapes
- Death of inmate
- Release from prison to community supervision
- Pending execution of inmate
- Upcoming parole hearings
[Back to Top] - 2) I understand that the offender in my case is being paroled. While I do not oppose this release, I do not want contact with him or her. What can I do?
- If you would like to ask the Parole Board for a
"special condition" of no contact, please call the Office
of Victim Services (1-888-842-8464) or the
Ohio Parole Board (614-752-1200)
to see if it is possible to have this included in its
decision.
[Back to Top] - 3) The offender in my case will be under supervision in the community upon his or her release from prison. Can I find out the name of his or her parole officer?
- Yes, if you would like to find out who the parole
officer will be for an offender, contact the Office
of Victim Services (1-888-842-8464) or the Placement
Section of the Adult Parole Authority
(614-752-1121).
[Back to Top] - 4) I have been receiving threats or unwanted contact from an inmate. What can I do?
- Contact the Office of the Victim Services or the
institution where the correspondence
is coming from to ask for assistance.
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Parole
- 1) What criteria are used in parole release decisions?
- Release decision-making is complicated by the diversity
inherent in human behavior. Since parole is a privilege,
not a right, parole hearings are not subject to the
evidentiary and due process rights afforded those accused
of a crime. Since due process and guilt issues have
been resolved prior to sentencing, public safety is
the only criteria for release decisions. Parole hearings
provide for the repeated review of the criminal in prison;
continual reevaluation of the risk that offenders present
to society; leverage over offenders before they are
released; careful supervision upon release; and the
potential to re-imprison those who appear to be a threat
to the community.
Under sentencing laws in effect prior to July 1, 1996, many offenders were sentenced to indeterminate terms of imprisonment. These sentences may have wide-ranging minimum and maximum terms. The Ohio Parole Board is empowered to manage these investments in public safety by determining if or when release is appropriate during this range of years. Release on parole is a privilege that must be earned. Violent and dangerous offenders are targeted for longer periods of incarceration.
Considered at each hearing is the need for further incapacitation, punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation. Current and past patterns of offense behavior are considered. A statistical risk assessment, validated by periodic research, is used at each hearing. Psychological and psychiatric evaluations are required for violent offenders as part of the evaluation process. By law, the Ohio Parole Board must consider input from the sentencing judge, prosecutor, and victims when the information is available. Offender participation in programs designed to reduce the risk of reoffending is expected and encouraged.
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Careers
- 1) Where can I get information about available jobs at the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction?
- You can download current job vacancies by going
to the "Employment"
link and click on
the icon "Statewide." This will connect you with the
State of Ohio Job Search page. From there you may search
vacancies by agency, title or county as well as access
the current list of civil service exams. You may also
view our job vacancies at any correctional institution,
central office in Columbus, the Civil Service Testing
and Information Office at 30 E. Broad St, Columbus,
Oh, 28th floor, or any One-Stop Employment and Training
Centers in your local areas.
Many vacancies are filled by current employees governed by existing labor agreements, usually noted as "internal postings." Yet many others are filled through vacancy announcements and civil service exams. Please review the Web site at http://das.ohio.gov/hrd/applinfo.html for tips on completing the civil service application.
[Back to top] - 2) What types of jobs are available?
- The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
is Ohio's largest state agency, with over 13,000 employees.
Over half of those employees are corrections officers.
We also employ nurses, teachers, doctors, information
technology professionals, parole officers, social workers,
clerical support, psychologists, account clerks, librarians,
maintenance, food service workers, and other specialized
services that are necessary to maintain our prison community.
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