The report provides statistics on aspects such as staffing and violence rates.
In Ross County, Ohio, an ongoing death investigation at Ross County Correctional Institution involving correction officer Andrew Lansing on Christmas Day has raised concerns about prison safety.
10TV received more than 20 phone calls and emails from inmates and their families about concerns they have about conditions inside the prison.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) stated that Warden Bill Cool has not been placed on administrative leave and they are closely monitoring the use of body-worn cameras. They have received no reports of ‘staff randomly beating inmates.’
10TV found the most recent inspection report from the prison which describes life behind prison walls.
The inspection report, released in September 2024, revealed several key findings:
- In 2023, there were 34 violent incidents against staff, marking a 5.6% decrease from 2022. The report indicates that due to changes implemented in 2024, staff reported a further reduction in violence rates.
- However, the prison recorded 1,063 fights in 2023, a significant 23.5% increase from the previous year.
- As of Sept. 16, 2024, the institution employed 479 total staff, including 320 officers. There were 59 total vacancies (11.1%), with 47 of those being officer positions (12.8%).
- Staff reported that changes to interviewing and qualifications processes in early 2024 had reduced staff separations and improved the quality of new hires.
Christopher Mabe, president of the union representing correction officers, emphasized the challenges of the job when 10TV spoke to him last week.
“This is a job that not everyone wants to do. It’s a very unsafe job to have, and it takes a special person to be there,” he said.
Following Lansing’s death, there have been calls for the warden and the Department of Corrections director to step down temporarily until the investigation is completed. It is crucial to prioritize security and order within the prison facility.
“If we don’t maintain security inside our facility, if we don’t maintain some type of law and order and rule inside of our prisons, these instances will never stop,” said Mabe.
The Department of Corrections reported that staff from other prisons have volunteered to work at Ross County Correctional Institution. This effort aims to relieve employees and provide them with the necessary time to support one another during this difficult period.
The funeral for Officer Lansing is scheduled for Jan. 3 at the Chillicothe High School gymnasium.
You can read the full inspection report of Ross County Correctional here.
