CLEVELAND — Gov. Mike DeWine announced a plan on Thursday to help the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center with a staffing shortage after a request from County Executive Armond Budish. 

What You Need To Know

  • According to the state, 42 corrections staff members are out with COVID and more than 100 inmates recently tested positive for the virus

  • Starting Dec. 28, members of the Ohio Military Reserve will begin assisting the center for 30 days

  • The center will also implement other protocols to contain the spread

DeWine said 25 members of the Ohio Military Reserve will begin working with the center for 30 days on Dec. 28. The members are "trained in disaster relief, medical support, volunteer reception and management, shelter management and logistics support in addition to basic soldier skills," according to DeWine's office. 

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction will also provide ongoing technical assistance and offer overtime opportunities to qualified ODRC staff members who wish to volunteer to work posts at CCCC.

Budish requested the help after a brigade of COVID-19 cases plagued the center, sending many staff members into quarantine. 

ODRC said approximately 42 corrections staff are off work due to COVID-19, and Budish said there's currently 160 incarcerated individuals who have tested positive for the virus. 

The safety, health, and well-being of all members of our community are of utmost importance and we will continue to do everything we can to respond to this new wave.

"The safety, health, and well-being of all members of our community are of utmost importance and we will continue to do everything we can to respond to this new wave. In order to protect our prisoners, staff, and community, I asked the Governor for help. He immediately responded by offering to send 25 members of the Ohio Military Reserve to help us in the jail. I am deeply appreciative," Budish wrote in a statement Thursday. 

According to officials, there will also be other interventions implemented at the center, including: 

  • COVID-19 guidance for correctional and detention facilities issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health must be rigorously implemented at CCCC
  • All staff posts must be reviewed for immediate need.  Any posts that are not essential and those posts that do not directly contribute to the security and safety of the facility must be temporarily closed.
  • Expedite the on-boarding of staff who are in the hiring queue.
  • Reduce all in-person visiting, to include attorney visits, to only those visits deemed absolutely necessary.
  • Cuyahoga County officials must work collaboratively with court and probation personnel to discuss the violation process for those individuals who are on court-ordered supervision as well as open warrants. Priority should be placed on those individuals who are a threat to public safety.

Cuyahoga County is among the top five places in the U.S. with the highest rate of spread. According to state data, the county has averaged around 199 cases per 100,000 people, which is a 170% increase within the last two weeks. 

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