Prison breaks and inmate suicides are two major problems in the Ohio prison system, according to a group of protesters who rallied in Columbus Monday. Dozens of people crowded the sidewalk on West Broad Street outside the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections headquarters calling on prison reforms. The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association claims there are several problems with Ohios prisons including a depleted security staff, higher inmate suicide rates, and breakoutsincluding T.J. Lane, the gunman who killed three students at Chardon High School. Union President Chris Mabe says Ohio has the money but spends it on a restructured management system that doesnt put enough people actually inside the prisons. We are sick and tired of people burying their heads in the sand saying theres nothing to see here and move on. We have incidents inside our prisons that need to be dealt with and the only way we can deal with them is by having boots on the ground during a 24/7 period, says Mabe.
According to Mabe, privatizing the food services plays into the problems. He says not all prisoners are getting the same amount of food which causes issues. The department of rehabilitation and corrections declined to comment on the protest but says its working to resolve issues, including hiring more than 80 new correction officers.