WAVERLY, Ohio — Pike County has been quoted as being one of the poorest counties in Ohio. The state of the county’s poverty was on international display when the local government struggled to investigate and prosecute Ohio’s worst homicide in 2016: the Rhoden family killings.
With a population just under 30,000, Pike County has lacked a county jail for decades. In recent years, the county has contracted with counties across the state to house inmates. Among them: Butler, Fayette, Ross, and Scioto. On an average year, more than $2 million is spent on transporting inmates to-and-from other counties to house them on local charges by the county Sheriff’s office.
That will all change in the coming future.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced the allocation of over $73 million for the construction of new jails across the state, with more than $32 million designated for a regional facility in Jackson County that will serve Jackson, Lawrence, and Pike counties.
The announcement was also made by Jackson County Sheriff Tedd Frazier.
This development is a significant milestone for Pike County, which has long struggled with the lack of a local jail facility. Currently, Jackson County’s jail, which accommodates only 40 male inmates, often faces overcrowding, forcing the transportation of inmates to other facilities across the state for their county, as well. This has led to increased logistical and financial burdens.
The new regional jail aims to alleviate issues by centralizing inmate housing and processing, reducing transportation costs, and improving operational efficiency.
The timeline for the construction of the new facility has not yet been established.