Use of force in Ohio prisons down, but up among women

Ohio's correction officers used force against inmates less often in 2014, but they used it more with female prisoners.

Statewide, there were 8 percent fewer incidents of force used in 2014, but at female institutions in Dayton and Marysville, use of force increased 67 percent and 31 percent, respectively, according to a report from the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.

Those rates have risen along with the numbers of women in prison.

Although year-to-year use of force is up for women, Ed Voorhies, managing director of operations, pointed out incidents are down 9 percent since the department moved high security female inmates out of the Ohio Reformatory for Women and to Dayton in 2012.

Even so, Voorhies said officials are analyzing use of force incidents and creating plans in hopes of preventing behaviors that would lead to a use of force incident. The majority of the time, he said correction officers use force because of behavior that could lead to imminent harm of the inmate, another inmate, or the staff.

Overall, the inspection committee noted that when force was used it appeared to be appropriate and rarely resulted in injury. The committee also noted internal investigations were being done when necessary.

Statewide, use of force incidents have decreased 16.4 percent since 2010, which inspection committee director Joanna Saul said is reflective of boosted training.

"I want our staff to have an ever-improving working knowledge of circumstances and why we use force, which is different from how we use force," Voorhies said.

However, concerns remain about about documentation, especially preserving video evidence of incidents.

"Use of force incident tracking has been a concern across the state; however, the DRC is also in the process of implementing an enhanced tracking system that will also allow for greater tracking of inmate characteristics, including mental health caseload status," Saul said.

In an effort to rectify documentation concerns, Voorhies has created a new use of force training for line supervisors and wardens.

While Dayton Correctional Institution had the largest single-year increase in use of force, Mansfield Correctional Institution had the largest number of incidents: 464 in 2014, a 2 percent increase from 2013. However, Ohio's maximum security facility in Lucasville had the highest rate of incidents per 1,000 inmates.

Like the Mansfield prison, others housing level three inmates, such as Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, have the highest use of force rates in the state. At RCI, there were 110 use of force incidents in 2014, a 31 percent increase from 2013 and a 131 percent increase since 2010.

"That shouldn't be a surprise (that use of force is higher at higher security prisons). They're in high security for a reason," Voorhies said.

North Central Correctional Complex, a level one and two facility, had 151 use of force incidents in 2014, a 38 percent decrease from 2013 and a 23 percent decrease since 2010. Marion Correctional Institution, a level one and two facility, had 129 use of force incidents in 2014, a 43 percent increase from 2013 and since 2010.

The committee also noted concerns that nearly 64 percent of inmates involved in use of force incidents are black. Voorhies said the department is working to analyze the incidents to better determine what key factors are at play.

"We're very sensitive to the importance of being sure we're not being disparate in use of force," he said.

jison@gannett.com

Twitter: @JonaIson