CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Scioto County will build a second jail by utilizing an old facility and grant funding.
The Sheriff’s office is one of six local jails to receive funding under Senate Bill 310. There were over 50 applications competing for the funding, according to records.
A total of $50 million was allocated to support local jail renovations in Senate Bill 310, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed by Governor DeWine in December 2020. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s (ODRC) Bureau of Adult Detention administered the application process and selected jails.
Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that Scioto County will receive $1.5 million for the creation of a new minimum-security jail for women. The project will transition the old juvenile detention center, located at 526 5th Street in Portsmouth into a female-only facility to address the growing need for female housing. The jail will reportedly have 150 beds.
“This facility will be developed with an emphasis on behavioral and substance abuse programming in partnership with the local social service providers,” the Sheriff said. “The proposal for this facility is to assist the population with the transition from incarceration to post-release. This project will also serve surrounding counties.”
Thoroughman said that the project was made possible by working with the Scioto County Commissioners to bring economic development and jobs to Scioto County.