Chillcothe Gazette
CHILLICOTHE — The director of the state’s prison system Thursday touted a massive change not in only approach, but in personnel, as proof of how reforms are working across Ohio.
Gary Mohr pointed to recent numbers showing decreases in repeat offenders and violence at state prisons during a speech to the Morning Rotary Club in Chillicothe.
“The prison system is different than it was 22 months ago,” said Mohr, who lives in Chillicothe and formerly served as a warden in Ross County. “We knew it would be difficult, but we also knew that we didn’t have time to tinker. We had to reform the system.”
Mohr cited statistics that show Ohio’s rate of repeat offenders at 31.2 percent, meaning 69 percent of released inmates succeed upon release. The national average is 44 percent.
Full story: Lower recidivism, less violence indicators of change at Ohio prisons, Mohr says