In the midst of the surging pandemic, Sheriff Kandy Fatheree reiterated her
commitment to community partnerships in corrections with the announcement of a
new approach to expand the acceptance of inmates at the Summit County Jail, while
continuing to maintain the safety standards necessary to prevent the spread of
COVID-19.
With the emergence of pandemic, the Summit County Jail and jails throughout the
nation faced the dual challenge of balancing health and safety with inmate intake
and population control. In an effort to mitigate the potential spread of the virus, the
practice of “double-bunking” inmates was eliminated, and a rigorous quarantine
protocol was implemented. Both practices continue to serve as the foundation of
minimal positive cases originating from the jail facility. “The health and safety of
the deputies, staff, and inmates at the jail is my number one priority,” said Sheriff
Fatheree.
Since taking office, Sheriff Fatheree has worked closely with the Common Pleas
Court and Oriana House to develop an alternative approach that will allow for the
safe housing of inmates. As of November, the Sheriff’s Office has begun the process
of transferring non-violent felons from the County Jail to the Community Alternative
Sentencing Center (CASC) operated by Oriana House in the former Glenwood Jail
complex. This collaboration assists in Sheriff Fatheree’s goals to achieve the optimal
use of space at the Jail.
“It is appropriate to keep violent pretrial offenders at the Jail, while developing
avenues for non-violent offenders to be housed at alternative facilities,” said Sheriff
Fatheree. “Balancing the needs of our local communities with the finite space at the
jail is a challenge, but working with the Courts and Oriana House, we are not only
assisting in keeping Summit County safer, but also putting non-violent arrestees into
much needed treatment at an earlier stage.”
