By Mark Caudill
Mansfield News Journal
MANSFIELD — Jobs were the focus of Wednesday’s meeting of the Richland County Community Corrections Board.
Capt. Joe Masi, the sheriff’s jail administrator, told the board he hopes to hire 22 corrections officers by this time next year. “We could open the east end of the third floor, 41 more beds,” he said.
Masi said any hires would have to be approved by county commissioners, who have given the sheriff’s office permission to hire on a quarterly basis. “We don’t have the funding at this point,” Masi said. He said time was another factor, noting the jail has only 10 field-training officers.
“It’s a 12-week program,” he said. A couple of the board members had questions for Masi. Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese asked about inmate assaults.
Retired defense attorney Steve Cockley asked what jailers do with inmates who are going through detox. Masi said they are kept in the booking area where they can be monitored until they are cleared by the medical staff. Mansfield police Capt. Ken Coontz noted the department staff is down 30 percent, but hope could be on the way.
“We are in the process of hiring,” he said. “We are looking to hire four people.” Coontz said grant money would help make that possible.
Coontz said the patrol officers need relief. Two members are on military leave, and another three are out with injuries, forcing the remaining officers to pick up the slack. “They can’t get days off,” Coontz said. “It’s starting to wear on them right now.”
Full story: Sheriff eyes 22 new corrections officers